March 20, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Martin
A. Kish
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(859) 351-8420 - Mobile
Kentucky Association of Manufacturers and Kentucky School Boards Association Form Partnership to Address Looming Skilled Worker Shortage
Frankfort -Two of Kentucky’s most influential organizations have formed a partnership to avert what they say will be a critical shortage of skilled workers that could threaten Kentucky’s largest industry and begin to endanger the Kentucky economy within five years.
Under the partnership, the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and the Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA) will collaborate on increasing the number of qualified students for well-paying engineering or advanced manufacturing careers.
“Thousands of baby boomers will soon be retiring from Kentucky’s advanced manufacturing industry and we need to make sure Kentucky students are ready to replace them,” says KSBA Executive Director Bill Scott.
“Manufacturing is Kentucky’s number one industry, producing $27 billion or 20 percent of our state gross product and employing 260,000 well-paid workers,” says Jim LeMaster, president of KAM. “If manufacturers can’t find qualified workers when the baby boomers begin to retire, they will begin to leave Kentucky, which will dramatically affect our economy and future prosperity.”
According to Scott and LeMaster, the partnership will result in:
- More manufacturing executives getting directly involved in local school systems and educating school leaders and teachers about the skills required for advanced manufacturing.
- School administrators, teachers and board members visiting local manufacturers to learn firsthand about the modern, advanced manufacturing environment.
- More manufacturing employees volunteering to mentor students, work with teachers or help with special school projects.
- Teachers, students and parents becoming more aware of the earnings potential and other opportunities of careers in advanced manufacturing.
- An increased number of schools that establish career pathways in advanced manufacturing.
- An increased number of schools who participate in Project Lead the Way, an engineering career pathway program.
- Higher high school graduation rates.
- An increased number of skilled trade degrees and certificates at Kentucky Career and Technical College System (KCTCS) institutions.
“This is a public-private education partnership that can make a difference in the lives of students as well as the future of advanced manufacturing,” says LeMaster.
“Kentucky’s public school boards are eager to work with their local industries to provide the skilled workforce that our state will need to remain a force in the global advanced manufacturing industry,” says Scott.
About the Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA)
Established in 1936, KSBA is the largest organization of elected officials in Kentucky. KSBA provides services such as training for board members and school staff, legal counsel, insurance and policy development for the state’s 174 public school systems.
About the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers
Established in 1911, KAM is the commonwealth’s only manufacturing trade association. Our mission is to raise the prosperity of all Kentuckians by protecting and growing our state’s economic engine: manufacturing. KAM proactively works with elected officials, policymakers, chambers of commerce, other associations, economic development experts, the news media, the general public and its own members to drive results through eight branded initiatives: ProsperousKentuckySM, ProductiveKentuckySM, FreedomKentuckySM, SmartKentuckySM, HealthyKentuckySM, HonestKentuckySM, CleanKentuckySM and MarketKentuckySM. Visit us on the web at www.KAManufacturers.com.
