Local Companies Need High School Graduates Who are Ready to Work

 

If Morgan County communities are going to have a thriving and prosperous future, it’s going to require a larger source of trained and ready to work individuals to fill local jobs.

 

“I’m really passionate about making people aware of opportunities to work in manufacturing. Awareness is the biggest challenge right now. Not everyone wakes up and says I want to be a tool salesman. Many parents dream about their child being a president, lawyer or doctor, but when I see a young person in my field, whether it’s a salesman or someone in the shop, I ask them how they got into this line of work so I can share their story to attract other young people,” said Jeff Haggard, Vice President of Industrial Sales for Haggard & Stocking. “Not every student is meant to go to college, so they need to know about opportunities for work that not only pay a good wage but are also close to home.”

That’s why the Community Foundation of Morgan County (CFMC) is working with educators and businesses to help bridge the gap between employers and employees by making students and high school graduates aware of different educational and career paths.

 

There are amazing, great paying, high-tech jobs in our county that don’t require a 4-year college degree. According to Haggard, there’s a lack of awareness among high school students and parents.

 

“There are some great careers in manufacturing that require only a two-year associate degree. Many companies offer internships where they pay for high school graduates to be trained at a technical school like Ivy Tech,” said Haggard. “Manufacturing is the backbone of our nation and without young people coming into this industry, we’ll have to start outsourcing more.”

 

CRISIS FACTS:

 

·         Many IN employers believe students are not adequately prepared for the workforce. More than half of them (64%) say the supply of qualified applicants doesn’t meet demand and 51% said they left jobs unfilled in the past year due to underqualified applicants.

·         Martinsville High School has a Precision Machining Technology Program, guided by an advisory board of several local manufacturing companies, that teaches skills such as machining, mechanics, engineering, construction and more.

·         Ivy Tech offers workforce certificates/credentials for advanced manufacturing, building, and construction, health sciences, information and business technology, and transportation and logistics to high school graduates and through Indiana’s Workforce Ready Grant, students can enroll and attend FREE of charge (tuition and fees covered).

 

Lack of awareness regarding alternative higher education and career opportunities is a real problem for students and parents. CFMC has identified real solutions such as funding to implement career path awareness and coaching programs in our schools. Partnering with our community through private and corporate philanthropy makes these real solutions possible. Go to cfmconline.org to give today and help change lives tomorrow.