Monday, May 14, 2012

May 4, 2012


GOVERNOR HERBERT APPOINTS NEW ENERGY ADVISOR
UB Daily
Gov. Gary R. Herbert appointed CODY STEWART as the Herbert’s new energy adviser. Stewart has worked in a number of capacities focusing on both Utah and national energy and natural resource policy, including Communications Coordinator for the House Committee on Natural Resources under Chairman Jim Hansen, as a senior Legislative Assistant on Energy and Public Lands Policy to Congressman Chris Cannon, and as a Legislative Director for Congressman Rob Bishop. Stewart also served, on two separate occasions, as the Executive Director of the Congressional Western Caucus. As Executive Director, Cody worked closely with over 50 western members of Congress to protect and promote western interests. In this capacity, Cody was responsible for developing, coordinating, and promoting legislative, regulatory and policy initiatives.

The unemployment rate also dropped to 8.1 percent, but only because the government only counts those who are looking for work … continue


OIL DROPS BELOW $100
Today in Manufacturing
Oil dropped below $100 per barrel for the first time since February following a disappointing U.S. jobs report and warnings of a weakening world economy … continue


CHINA VOWS CHANGE IN TRADE, FINANCE
Today in Manufacturing
China agreed to let foreigners own bigger stakes in its securities firms and promised to limit export subsidies after a high-level dialogue with the U.S. … continue

While worker output rose, the number of hours worked increased by an even larger amount, which suggests companies might need to hire soon ...  continue

The report found that young firms now account for less than 35 percent of all businesses, and only account for 30 percent of new jobs ...   continue
National Association of Manufacturers
NAM Members Meet with Media and the Hill on Closing the Skills Gap. The shortage of qualified individuals who can work in advanced manufacturing is gaining media attention. Despite high unemployment numbers, 600,000 jobs remain unfilled because of a lack of skilled talent. On Wednesday, May 2, the NAM and the Manufacturing Institute co-hosted a roundtable for reporters to meet face-to-face with manufacturers and hear the challenges of creating a skilled workforce in the United States.
Manufacturers told reporters from The Wall Street Journal, The Hill and McClatchy that their ability to succeed in the highly competitive global marketplace depends on access to an educated, flexible and knowledge-based workforce. In turn, employees need the education and skills to support a robust and dynamic manufacturing economy. 
Roundtable participants included Sandra Westlund-Deenihan, president and design engineer at Quality Float Works, Inc.; Ryan Costella, director of strategic initiatives at Click Bond, Inc.; and Martha Webb-Jones, senior manager of global employment and workforce planning at Spirit AeroSystems, who each gave personal anecdotes about how the serious shortage of qualified employees takes an increasingly negative toll on their ability to be innovative and productive.
NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons provided opening remarks on the state of the skills gap. “American workers are the most productive in the world. The problem is we aren’t developing this talent,” said Timmons.
Manufacturing Institute President Jennifer McNelly agreed. More than 80 percent of manufacturers report moderate to serious shortages of skilled talent in the hiring pool, notably in skilled production. “It’s a quality, not a quantity, issue,” she said.
With manufacturing jobs requiring workers to be more technologically savvy, a common theme from NAM members centered on the difficulty of finding candidates with the skill set to fill entry-level jobs, which in turn affects productivity and profitability.

NAM members stressed the importance of establishing a baseline for reading, writing, math and problem-solving skills. The NAM believes priority should be given to education and training programs that result in nationally portable, industry-recognized credentials that allow workers to succeed in virtually all entry-level jobs in manufacturing. In June of last year, President Obama highlighted the Manufacturing Institute’s NAM-Endorsed Skills Certification System as a solution to manufacturers’ workforce needs.
The Manufacturing Institute also announced that in 2011, certification bodies that partner with the Institute issued more than 84,000 certifications to individuals—well on the way toward reaching the Institute’s goal of awarding 500,000 certifications by 2016.

The United States needs a strong technical workforce. Employers rely on the right workers, with the right skills, at the right time to drive innovation and remain globally competitive. Workers need the right skills to access employment and advancement opportunities. The America Works Act is a promising path to reach these goals. This measure would prioritize nationally portable, industry-recognized certifications within existing federal training systems, using existing funding. The NAM drove support for the bill, which passed the House 412-10 during the last Congress, and is working to build support in the Senate. Following the reporter roundtable, Westlund-Deenihan met with members of Congress on the Hill to discuss the America Works Act and the need for a 21st-century workforce.
The NAM’s A Manufacturing Renaissance: Four Goals for Economic Growth also highlights the importance of closing the skills gap. “It all begins and ends with the skilled workforce; if you don’t have that, nothing else matters,” said Webb-Jones.
Details: Christine Scullion, (202) 637-3133 and Jacey Wilkins, (202) 637-3493.

Details: Amanda Wood, (202) 637-3128.


Details: Alicia Meads, (202) 637-3174 and Chip Yost, (202) 637-3175.

EPA’s Ozone Air Quality Announcement Deals Economic Blow to Manufacturers. On Tuesday, May 1, the EPA released a list of 45 areas in the United States in non-attainment with the 2008 ground-level Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Non-attainment carries serious consequences for the counties and geographic areas unfortunate enough to earn the designation. Areas face economic development obstacles, greater EPA involvement in the permitting process and potential losses in federal highway and transit funding. These impacts are a real problem for a country still recovering from the recent recession. Manufacturers remain deeply concerned about the EPA’s persistence in setting and implementing overly burdensome and unrealistic standards.The NAM will continue to urge the EPA to re-evaluate its regulatory agenda and to set standards that protect the environment and human health without causing economic harm. The NAM and other groups challenged the legality of the EPA’s ozone standards in federal court, and formal briefing is scheduled to conclude this summer, with oral arguments expected in the fall.
Details: Alicia Meads, (202) 637-3174.

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