WARREN, Ohio – The leaders of two organizations that represent manufacturers applauded a new initiative announced Tuesday to expand the state’s pipeline of skilled technical professionals ready to step into some of Ohio’s most in-demand jobs.

During the Rockefeller Foundation’s Big Bets for Ohio conference in Cleveland, Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel and JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef announced the new JobsOhio Experiential Learning Initiative. 

“Today’s economy is being driven by people with the skills to build, maintain and operate the systems that drive innovation forward,” Nauseef said. “Empowering employers with the ability to provide hands-on experience is a critical step to increasing earn-and-learn opportunities for Ohio’s students and workers.”

Through the program, JobsOhio will invest $300 million over 10 years to help Ohio employers fill specialized positions in industries such as advanced manufacturing; advanced aerospace and defense; automotive; energy and chemicals; financial services; food and agribusiness; health care; logistics and distribution; and technology.

According to a JobsOhio news release, the first phase of the initiative will provide financial incentives for employers who invest in experiential learning by:

  • Enrolling current employees in qualifying associate’s degree programs, technical certificate training or registered apprenticeships to upskill their knowledge in critical industries.
  • Hiring individuals already enrolled in qualifying education programs to provide them with on-the-job training in critical industries while they earn their credentials.

“Ohio’s workforce challenge will not be solved by hoping more people find these careers on their own,” Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, said in a news release. “Manufacturers need a stronger pipeline of skilled talent, and Ohioans need clearer pathways into good careers. Experiential learning helps connect both sides of that equation.”

JobsOhio estimates that the state will need 540,000 STEM and technically skilled workers over the next 10 years to meet employer demand, with technicians accounting for 43% of that demand. As a result, the first phase of the initiative will include a technician earn-and-learn program designed to meet workforce needs and connect Ohioans with high-wage technician jobs.

The initiative will align with a technician training program that will launch Monday at Youngstown State University, said Alex Hertzer, executive director of the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition. 

“This program is a win-win for everyone involved – it gets young people into the workforce faster, gives existing employees the opportunity to learn new skills and gives employers the talented, technical workforce they need to get the job done,” DeWine said. “Providing this support to Ohio employers is critical to growing the state’s talent pipeline at a speed aligned with demand.”

Tressel also emphasized the need for the program. 

“Ohio’s economic future will be built by the people who are willing to learn, grow and adapt,” he said. “From advanced manufacturing to health care, it’s important that we have pathways available to connect more people with those opportunities. This program will create more chances for Ohioans to gain skills through hands-on experience, which is the best way to lead someone to a rewarding career.”

Ohioans will have the opportunity to participate in the technician earn-and-learn program through employers offering paid apprenticeships, co-ops and internships. By offering employers an incentive and hands-on support during implementation, the program aims to significantly increase degree and training completions in critical industries, with an estimated 25,000 Ohioans expected to benefit from the program’s initial phase.

Manufacturers ranging from Schwebel Baking Co. to Ultium Cells need technicians to upgrade, troubleshoot and keep machines running, Hertzer affirmed. 

“Every company is struggling,” he continued. “When I came out of manufacturing four or five years ago, we were struggling then to find people, but you would still get applications, people who had some experience. That’s almost not the case at all anymore. So, really, the only way is to kind of grow your own technician at this point. So we’re hoping that this kind of more entry-level technician program at YSU will help fill that gap quickly.” 

The JobsOhio announcement helps incentivize the upskilling of workers, he added.

“It’s helping the company, but at the same time it’s helping our community members advance along these pathways,” he said. 

OMA said the focus on technicians is especially important for manufacturers, which continue to face sustained demand for workers who can build, maintain and operate advanced equipment and production systems. The association has been developing its own one-year technician earn-and-learn program to help prepare entry-level workers for advanced manufacturing careers.

“Done right, this initiative can help more Ohioans see a future in manufacturing and help employers fill the critical roles that drive productivity, innovation and competitiveness,” Augsburger said. “The key will be making sure employers help shape the work so the investment is tied to real jobs, real skills and real workforce demand.”

Developed in collaboration with workforce partners throughout the state, including the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the new program is part of JobsOhio’s strategy to build the state’s talent pipeline as economic growth creates increased demand for specialized talent.

“The demand for highly skilled technicians is increasing, making career development more important than ever,” said Molly Moses, JobsOhio interim managing director for talent. “The technician earn-and-learn program establishes training pathways that are more accessible, leading to industry-recognized stackable credentials and postsecondary associate degrees for the talent that businesses are seeking to hire and upskill.”

The Experiential Learning Initiative will also raise public awareness of the benefits of specific in-demand careers and provide employers with support services to guide them in implementing experiential learning programs, according to the JobsOhio news release. The technician earn-and-learn program will launch later this year, and future phases of the initiative will focus on additional career pathways such as engineering, technology and artificial intelligence.