Job training called key to state's growth
McCOOK, Neb. -- The single biggest barrier Nebraska's manufacturing companies are facing is finding people to take the well-paid jobs they offer. Gov. Pete Ricketts thinks a mix of middle-school training programs stemming from private and public partnerships may be the solution and could also help communities searching for ways to keep area youth from leaving.
Gov. Ricketts visited the McCook Valmont plant Friday as part of a statewide tour highlighting National Manufacturing Day. Speaking to a group of community, business and educational leaders, he said he is encouraging the private sector to get involved with local school districts and college programs to help create a pipeline of trained high school students which would alleviate staffing problems within the manufacturing industry.
Prior to his Valmont visit, Gov. Ricketts stopped in Hastings to follow up on just such a program. The Hastings Public Middle School received grant assistance from the state last year which was used to help with the purchase of 3-D printers for a middle school training program. He said the program was doing great and some 75 students have since received training, out of an eighth grade class of 250.
Gov. Ricketts said there are a lot of other similar opportunities out there that can be derived from partnerships between businesses and local schools, colleges and communities. He said promoting manufacturing by encouraging and preparing youth would also help Nebraska communities searching for ways to keep its young people from leaving.
McCook Economic Development Director Kirk Dixon indicated he agreed with the Governor's effort to encourage youth training partnerships. "Not every [High School] graduate is a candidate for a four-year degree, and that's OK," said Dixon, adding it was refreshing to hear state leaders encouraging training that would expand options for graduates.
Manufacturing represents Nebraska's second largest industry segment, with almost 2,000 operations and some 96,000 jobs statewide, according to Gov. Ricketts. He indicated there were still opportunities for expansion by marketing goods to China and other countries, pointing out Nebraska already supplied 80 percent of the world's center-pivots, thanks to companies like Valmont.
Gov. Ricketts touted manufacturing's ability to create high-paying jobs anywhere in the state, dubbing it "the gateway to upper-middle class." He also said Nebraska wasn't a healthy state unless job creation was occurring all across the state, not just in the metropolitan areas.