On June 16, 2023 at Lincoln South Rotary Club, we heard from Chloe Higgins with Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development. She shared information about the Lincoln Manufacturing Council and the classes they teach to uplift entry level workers.
Chloe is responsible for coordinating the Lincoln Manufacturing Council.
We have incredibly low unemployment. There are not enough workers for the open positions - there are 15 jobs per unemployed individual. Chloe mentioned that there may be segments of our community that do not appear in the stats. There are marginally attached and discouraged workers. As well there are many that are not familiar with the job process such as immigrants.
The Lincoln Manufacturing Council works to match the manufacturing community with individuals that might fit their needs. And, they work to ensure that workers can continue to fill those needs by providing training to move people from entry level to higher positions.
The Lincoln Manufacturing Council has three focus areas:
1. Improve recruitment and retention of workforce by creating, providing, and graduating individuals in the Lincoln Manufacturing Certificate program and establishing career pathways for growth
2. Increase awareness of manufacturing careers in our community by sharing career opportunities through LPS partnerships/post-graduation contacts and immigrant/refugee serving agencies
3. Build opportunities for business growth and collaboration among like-minded organizations by highlighting career opportunities and retention strategies
Through the Council, individuals can get trained for entry level positions in manufacturing companies. It is a 6-week program that includes classroom training, job-shadowing and a job fair. They receive a stipend at the end when they apply for a job. Some have given up hours at work to attend so this helps offset that loss.
The classes have 10 to 15 individuals. So far they have had 171 graduate. 67% have reported that they applied for a job. 42% reported that they secured a position. Chloe believes that employment number is higher - there is not incentive for them to report when they are employed. There is a stipend when they apply.
They also have a level 2 class that is designed to improve job skills - help workers move from entry level to the next level. The classes are taught by individuals from the manufacturing industry - with experience - possibly retired. This is longer course and they meet 2 nights a week. It is a skills based program with three modules:
- Industrial Math
- Print Reading
- Measurement
To learn more, see the LMC members and sponsors, etc, visit https://www.selectlincoln.org/LMC.
BIO:
Chloe Higgins is the Workforce Development Project Administrator for the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, tasked with coordinating the Lincoln Manufacturing Council. She joined LPED June 2022 after graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Business. She brings a community development and public policy background from internships at the Nebraska Community Foundation and the National Corn Growers Association, and a passion for Lincoln and greater Nebraska.