By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois Manufacturers Association (IMA) is looking to fill manufacturer jobs throughout the state through a statewide education and policy tour.
According to Sarah Hartwick, Vice President for Education and Workforce policy for IMA, the organization is making ten regions across the state to determine regional workforce barriers.
“It’s been really interesting. I think each region we’ve gone to six so far. We were just in Bloomington-Normal at Heartland (Community College) a couple of days ago. And each region really speaks to different issues to some of what they’re hearing with the potential employees that they’re interviewing or lack thereof.”
More than 800,000 manufacturing jobs remain open across the country, but Hartwick told WJBC’s Scott Miller the focus is on technology in the twin cities.
“In the Bloomington-Normal region, we heard a lot about the skills gap – the computer skills that may not be up to par, the math skills that may not be up to par for those potential employees that are applying for those positions. And also some of the soft skills, just the skills when it comes to how to interview, how to show up on time, what to do after you’re hired.”
Hartwick said once the tour is completed, the IMA will gather data to implement skills through educational lessons in each region.
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
