Finally: A Cure for the Skills Gap.

Finally: A Cure for the Skills Gap. As the strength of industrial stocks in the turbulent stock marketsuggests, manufacturing remains vitally important to the nation'sprosperity. Manufacturing leads in productivity growth--the key tomaintaining a New Economy marked by low rates of unemployment andinflation. Manufacturing also accounts for 72 percent of America'sexports and 64 percent of industrial research and development. The Commerce Department's April announcement of the grossdomestic product statistics provided surprisingly good news, with a twopercent growth in the GDP--twice as much as predicted. At the same time,however, numerous manufacturing companies were announcing plant closingsand layoffs. Both of these occurrences indicate a "churning Firing one group of employees and hiring another. As companies move into newer, high-tech ventures, they often eliminate employees with older skills while bringing on new people who have computer programming, networking and Web experience. "in the labor market labor marketA place where labor is exchanged for wages; an LM is defined by geography, education and technical expertise, occupation, licensure or certification requirements, and job experience that may continue for some time. While consumerspending Consumer demand or consumption is also known as personal consumption expenditure. It is the largest part of aggregate demand or effective demand at the macroeconomic level. and a decline in the trade deficit sparked the growth, thelayoffs and plant closings underscore The underscore character (_) is often used to make file, field and variable names more readable when blank spaces are not allowed. For example, NOVEL_1A.DOC, FIRST_NAME and Start_Routine. (character) underscore - _, ASCII 95. the need for workers to beprepared to respond to setbacks and take advantage of other jobopportunities that may arise. And while the improvement in our tradedeficit outlook points to the importance of the manufacturing industryin maintaining a healthy economy in the United States United States,officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , the lack of jobsecurity shows the need for individual workers to take charge of theirown careers in manufacturing. With the United States ranked as the world's most productiveeconomy, according to according toprep.1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.2. In keeping with: according to instructions.3. the World Economic Forum, the general outlook isstrong for the manufacturing industry. But there are two challengesfacing the industry: ensuring the presence of a skilled workforce toprovide the backbone for continued growth in a technology-intensivemanufacturing sector and ensuring that those skilled workers haverecognized and portable skills so that they can ensure their ownfutures. The need for skilled workers is growing rapidly. According to theU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)A research agency of the U.S. Department of Labor; it compiles statistics on hours of work, average hourly earnings, employment and unemployment, consumer prices and many other variables. , in 1950, 60 percent of manufacturingjobs were unskilled; today, only 30 percent are unskilled, and by 2005,the number is expected to shrink to 15 percent. A National Associationof Manufacturers survey reports that 88 percent of manufacturers reporta shortage of qualified workers in at least one job category, continuinga decline started in 1991. This shortage threatens the ability of the manufacturing industryto continue to implement new technology, one of the main reasons for itsgrowth in the past decade. More than 50 percent of manufacturingcompanies report the lack of access to skilled workers as the mostsignificant barrier to adopting technology. Adding to the demand in the coming years will be the departure fromthe workforce of many "baby boomers See generation X. ." According to a study bythe University of Michigan (body, education) University of Michigan - A large cosmopolitan university in the Midwest USA. Over 50000 students are enrolled at the University of Michigan's three campuses. The students come from 50 states and over 100 foreign countries. , the auto industry alone will need to find250,000 workers by 2005 to replace retirees. Where are the workers to fill this void? How can manufacturersensure that these workers have the training and experience to completetheir assigned tasks? How can workers verify their skills and transferthem from one manufacturing sector to another? How can high schools,vocational and technical centers, and community and technical collegesprepare students for jobs in the manufacturing industry? The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC MSSC Multiple Sclerosis Society of CanadaMSSC Mississippi Supreme CourtMSSc Master of Social ScienceMSSC Medium SEAL Support CraftMSSC Missouri Seismic Safety CommissionMSSC Muscle Shoals Sailing Club (Alabama)), in partnershipwith the National Skill Standards Board The National Skill Standards Board was a coalition of community, business, labor, education, and civil rights leaders. It was tasked with building a national voluntary system of skill standards, assessment, and certification to enhance the ability of the United States workforce to (NSSB NSSB National Skills Standards BoardNSSB Nikko Salomon Smith Barney (Japan)NSSB North Suburban Symphonic Band ), has attacked thisproblem by launching A Blueprint blueprint,white-on-blue photographic print, commonly of a working drawing used during building or manufacturing. The plan is first drawn to scale on a special paper or tracing cloth through which light can penetrate. for Workforce Excellence, the first setof nationwide skill standards for all sectors of the manufacturingindustry. MSSC presented its nationwide skill standards on May 10th, inWashington, D.C. The MSSC membership is comprised of leading companies,international unions, educational and training organizations, andnational, state and regional governmental organizations. It is seekingto create a system of skill standards, assessments and certificationdesigned to ensure a qualified, mobile workforce to meet the needs ofthe nation's economy in the 21st century. Such a system, when fullyimplemented, would provide a long-term cure for the skills gap challengefacing manufacturers. The MSSC standards identify best practices for successfulmanufacturing work and define the skills and knowledge required toexecute the tasks required of a skilled manufacturing employee. Thisincludes the research and national validation See validate. validation - The stage in the software life-cycle at the end of the development process where software is evaluated to ensure that it complies with the requirements. of the specific jobfunctions in successful worksites--the indicators that tell when the jobis completed successfully, as well as the level of technical knowledgeand skills needed for the job. These skill standards will be a powerful tool for employers,educators and workers. This system will enable companies to more easilyfind and hire qualified workers and reduce turnover. It will helpworkers take charge of their career development and find better jobs. Itwill help educators create a curriculum that prepares students withportable skills needed in the modern economy. There are three distinct levels of skill standards: core,concentration and specialized spe��cial��ize?v. spe��cial��ized, spe��cial��iz��ing, spe��cial��iz��esv.intr.1. To pursue a special activity, occupation, or field of study.2. . MSSC itself has developed standards forsix concentration areas that apply to all sectors of the manufacturingindustry and has identified the core skills and knowledge that arecommon to all six of these concentrations. Eventually, these core and concentration standards will be alignedwith the various specialized standards developed by specific industriesor unions. The skill standards system is designed to give workers a"passport" that allows them to transfer their skills acrossindustry segments and a "road map" that shows them what skillsthey need to gain to advance their careers. The system also enableseducators and trainers to teach workers the skills they need to meetfuture needs of the manufacturing industry. Employers will haveincreased access to skilled workers in this country by identifying theskills required for manufacturing careers and enabling applicants toprove they have the skills to be successful. Because these standards were created with input from participantsin the manufacturing industry from across the country, representinglabor, education and industry, they offer a true blueprint for creatingthe skilled, mobile workforce needed in today's economy. Withwidespread adoption and implementation, the manufacturing industry cancontinue to provide its share of good news in future economic reports. For more information about the MSSC or to obtain copies of thestandards, visit the MSSC Web site at www.msscusa.org. To order copiesby phone, call Emily Brennan at MSSC at 202-216-2753. Dr. John Rauschenberger, Ford Motor Company Dr. John Rauschenberger is Chair of the MSSC. ACTE ACTE Association for Career and Technical Education (formerly American Vocational Association)ACTE Association of Corporate Travel ExecutivesACTE Approvals Committee for Terminal EquipmentACTE Anodal Closure Tetanus has been on theMSSC Steering Committee steer��ing committeen.A committee that sets agendas and schedules of business, as for a legislative body or other assemblage.steering committeeNoun since its inception and continues to play a rolein the Council's activities.