Workers constantly have to sell and upgrade their skills.
Competition brought on by the global marketplace has caused employers to invest in new technology requiring a more skilled workforce. The manufacturing industry is a prime example. Because so many of today's products are highly customized, machinists also must be able to communicate with customers. For several years, Montgomery College has been surveying the business community and listening carefully to organizations, such as the Montgomery County Manufacturing Consortium. Job skills have been profiled and curriculums have been developed.