Worksystems and area workforce partners recently hosted an event at Clackamas Community College to showcase careers in manufacturing to area youth to help build a pipeline of skilled workers for the industry. Students learned about industry occupations, wage rates, and available tools to help them further explore career options. Students toured the college’s manufacturing training facilities and completed hands on projects to get a feel for the nature of the work. The day concluded with a presentation by Liberty Metal Fab on employment at their company. Students who attended received credit for participation in a Career Related Learning Experience (CRLE), fulfilling a State of Oregon high school graduation requirement.
45 students from 16 high schools attended the half-day event
“Manufacturing offers good paying, stable jobs with opportunities for lifelong learning and advancement. We need to raise the excitement level of students, parents, teachers and job seekers for this rewarding sector. Manufacturing Showcase Day helped do this,” said Worksystems’ Executive Director Andrew McGough.
“Manufacturing is alive and well in Portland, and is a critical part of our economy. We expect local manufacturers to add over 13,000 new jobs in the tri-county area alone by 2020. Thousands more positions will become vacant as people retire, creating additional opportunities for employment. These new jobs and upcoming vacancies span most areas of manufacturing, from metals and machinery to high tech and aerospace, and will require anywhere from on-the-job training to advanced degrees,” said Amy Vander Vliet, Economist, Oregon Employment Department.
Thank you to the many partners who helped us to make this event a success: the Tri-County School to Work Consortium, WorkSource Oregon Employment Department, Clackamas Community College, Mt. Hood Community College, Portland Community College, Liberty Metal Fab, Benchmade Knives, and the Workforce Investment Council of Clackamas County.