Complete Story
06/08/2022
Workforce Development Deficit
Source: Politico, May 26, 2022. Content Provided by National Association of Manufacturers.
As inflation continues to spike, the White House and Congress are turning their attention to one of its least-talked-about causes: lagging workforce development.
For years, the U.S. has spent far less on training its workers and done so much less effectively than most other wealthy nations, which is contributing to the supply chain woes caused by the pandemic.
With two job openings for every worker seeking employment in March, economists say one reason for the mismatch is a failure to effectively prepare workers for in-demand roles. Many of the shortfalls are in sectors particularly crucial to a healthy supply chain, including trucking, manufacturing, railroads and ports.
If policymakers can’t remedy the situation, labor and education experts warn that it could permanently hobble the U.S. economy and impede its ability to compete with other economic powers like China — particularly given how long it can take for changes to produce results.
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and congressional Democrats are scrambling to reinforce the supply chain’s little-known Achilles heel before inflation can spiral further. Prices have risen 8.3 percent over the last year — well above the 5.5 percent hike in average hourly earnings in the same period.
“Industries are having troubles getting workers right now; a lot of that is that they’re not skilled up or are trained to do work in those industries, because they’ve left and gone to other industries,” Walsh said recently in a classroom at The Apprentice School in Newport News, Va., which trains shipbuilding workers. “Right now is the time to make sure we continue to make investments in workforce development [and] job training.”
Though this lack of workforce development can be concerning, there are measures that are being taken by Graphic Media Alliance and the printing industry as a whole.
Graphic Media Alliance is hosting the inaugural FORE THE WIN Workforce Development Challenge taking place in the Michigan region on June 16, 2022. This will be an exciting evening at Top Golf Auburn Hills where students from print focused programs will compete against print executives from six different companies to see which group will take home the FORE THE WIN Trophy and bragging rights! We think that this event will be a huge success in which we will be able to expand upon and bring to our other three regions. Bringing print executives and students together is a great first step in workforce development.
GMA had also been reaching out to teachers of print focused programs and visiting schools to spread awareness of the efforts that we are making with workforce development and PIEF Scholarships.
In addition to GMA's efforts, Americas Print Show, being held August 17-19, will have a large focus on workforce development.
Print has a long history of facing the daunting challenge of attracting and retaining a workforce that replenishes the aging-out journeyman and skilled talent. APS22’s goal is to bring resources, ideas, education, and thought leadership together to address the critical need for workforce development. As a premier national industry trade show, APS22 is well positioned to positively impact many of the large and small print industry business by connecting them with students, veterans, second chance groups, and people with disabilities.
APS22 will highlight scholarships, direct-to-work and other training opportunities to draw in new talent.
We look forward to the future of PRINT!
