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.
HIRING SLOWS
SHARPLY WITH JUST 115K JOBS ADDED
Today in Manufacturing
Today in Manufacturing
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 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 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
US WORKER OUTPUT FELL IN Q1 BY MOST IN A YEAR
Today in Manufacturing
Today in Manufacturing
While worker output rose, the
number of hours worked increased by an even larger amount, which suggests
companies might need to hire soon ... continue
REPORT: RATE OF STARTUPS HIT RECORD LOW
Today in Manufacturing
Today in Manufacturing
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.
|
Speak Out
Against the EPA’s Costly Utility Air Rule. Manufacturers remain committed
in their support for Sen. James Inhofe’s (R-OK) Resolution of Disapproval
(S.J. Res. 37) to repeal the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Utility
Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for power plants—also known as Utility
MACT. By the EPA’s own accounting, Utility MACT would cost almost $90
billion—making it one of the most expensive rules the Agency has ever
finalized. This rule will vastly increase energy costs for manufacturers, who
use one-third of the energy consumed in this country. Manufacturers expect a
vote on the resolution in June, and the NAM strongly encourages companies and
associations to sign a coalition letter urging support for the resolution.
The deadline for signatures has been extended to May 13. Click here
to sign the letter.In addition, please send your own letter of support for
the resolution to your senator using the NAM’s Manufacturing
Works site.
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.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment