Mobile outreach to school kids.

• Author: Maier, Larry A.
• Position: STEM NEWS: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS

The nation is now facing a critical shortage of skilled labor.

This problem covers the entire pipeline from highly skilled machinists who can operate the high technology equipment used in today's manufacturing facilities through degreed scientists and engineers.

According to a survey of local precision manufacturers conducted by the Western Massachusetts chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association (WMNTMA), there are more than 400 openings in phone area code 413 right now. An aging workforce will add 200 to 300 per year, even if the economy is flat.

According to a Northeastern University Study, there will be more than 100,000 manufacturing job openings in Massachusetts over the next decade.

Currently, companies in Western Massachusetts are turning away work due to an inability to find qualified employees.

There are a number of factors contributing to these sobering statistics, among them being the ongoing challenge of convincing young people and their parents that manufacturing, specifically precision manufacturing, is alive, well, and has a bright future. Another challenge is to simply inspire young people to want to join the sector. This can best be done by showing and telling them what it is all about.

One of the most effective vehicles-literally and figuratively--for handling these assignments in Western Massachusetts has been a mobile training unit (MTU) operated by the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP).

When members of the WMNTMA visit middle schools and high schools, the comment heard all too often from the "worker of the future" is "I thought manufacturing was dead."

If those of us in industry do not change this perception, it will be.

We continually hear about layoffs and shutdowns. This is the information on which today's parents and children base their career decisions. The focus is on unemployment, not openings. According to reports issued by the Massachusetts Department of Labor, there was approximately one unfilled job for every two unemployed people in the state as of December 2007. Roughly 7 percent of the unfilled jobs were in manufacturing.

Meanwhile, 100 percent of graduates from manufacturing technology programs at local vocational high schools have jobs, go into the military, or go to college upon graduation. Neither our elected officials nor our educators preach this message.

Gov. Deval Patrick and top educators in Massachusetts have identified the need to improve interest and...