Skills gap discussion in Owatonna brings manufacturers and educators around the table

Feb. 8, 2013 - PRLog -- Owatonna, Minnesota—January 31, 2013

Wintry weather didn’t discourage 60+ manufacturers, human resource managers, educators, mayors, school superintendents, and other concerned Southern Minnesota representatives from convening in Owatonna on Thursday. The group was invited jointly by Doherty Staffing Vice President Gauher Mohammad and Riverland Community College to participate in a discussion,“Planning Tomorrow’s Workforce,” on the issue of workforce sustainability in the region.

Manufacturers in region face worker shortage
A 2011 survey carried out by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development found that 67 percent of Minnesota manufacturers consider a “high-performance workforce” to be the number one requirement for success and, as a result, the biggest challenge. According to the survey report[1], “Workforce shortages are a potential cause for concern for Minnesota businesses. Close to half of respondents (47 percent) had positions that were unfilled due to lack of qualified applicants, including 13 percent with 10 percent or more of jobs unfilled.”

Representatives from Owatonna, Medford, Albert Lea, Austin, Glenville, and other communities
Participants in the discussion included Mayors Thomas Kuntz, Lois Nelson, and Vern Rasmussen of Owatonna, Medford, and Albert Lea, respectively. Other participants included representatives from:

·         City of Owatonna and the Owatonna Chamber of Commerce
·         Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
·         Albert Lea Economic Development Agency

Riverland Community College was co-host for the “Planning Tomorrow’s Workforce” luncheon.Other educators included Superintendents, Principals, Assistant Principals, and other representatives from:

·         Medford Public Schools
·         Owatonna Public Schools
·         Albert Lea Public Schools
·         Glenville-Emmons and Grand Meadow Public Schools
·         Austin Public Schools
·         Cardinal Stritch University
·         Owatonna Business Incubator

Business leaders and entrepreneurs contributed to the conversation
Representatives from 17 local and regional businesses made up half of the attendees. Companies that participated in “Planning Tomorrow’s Workforce” included:

·         Tru-Vue
·         Viracon
·         Bosch
·         Cybex International
·         Truth Hardware
·         Modern Metal Products
·         Huber Supply
·         AGCO
·         K & G Manufacturing
·         Edwards Manufacturing
·         Thermo-King
·         Larson Contracting
·         Interstate Packaging Corporation
·         Quality Pork Processors, Inc.
·         RIHM Kenworth
·         Foldcraft Co.
·         Josten’s
·         Workforce Development, Inc.

Discussion led by Doherty Vice President Gauher Mohammad
Owatonna resident and VP for Doherty Staffing, Gauher Mohammad opened the discussion. “When I first started thinking about this problem I asked educators in our local colleges how they find players for their basketball team. It led me to wonder how aggressive we could be with this a similar approach to attract students into technical programs. We would like to see a proactive plan to get in front of those students.”

Participants explored possible causes of skills gap in region
Many factors are contributing to the skills gap issue, according to both educators and manufacturers. The belief that a four-year degree is the ideal for all students is pervasive, according to both groups, and may not be realistic or even desirable, for the student or the community. According to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education[2], “the percentage of students who graduate from a Minnesota four-year postsecondary institution after six years is 61 percent.” This raised the question of whether a more high school juniors and seniors would be better served by choosing two-year degrees or other technical training.

Solutions proposed from every sector; committee formed
The lack of labor may be alleviated by better marketing of production careers to students, according to some attendees. Jim Wendorff, Vice President of Human Resources for Viracon, said, “Young people may have a perception of manufacturing facilities as dark, dirty, or grungy, and teachers themselves may not have a good awareness of what the work environment is like in a modern manufacturing operation. We need to market manufacturing better. Chambers of Commerce can play a role in helping to rebrand manufacturing.” A suggestion of monthly tours of local facilities by both faculty and students met with approval, but some voiced concerns about taking students out of school.

Next action to include state and local legislators
The “Planning Tomorrow’s Workforce” event was originally scheduled for December 20, and panelists included Senator Vicki Jensen, Senator Dan Sparks, and State Representative Shannon Savick. However, weather forced a schedule change and the legislators were unable to attend on the 31st due to legislature being in session. A follow-up meeting to present recommendations from the January discussion to the senators and representative will take place in late February.

Add your voice to the discussion
Riverland Community College, Doherty Staffing, and the member of the skills gap discussion group welcome input from students, workers, and employers, as well as faculty and administrative staff of elementary, secondary, and post-secondary institutions. To share your comments or insights, or to become involved with the ongoing discussions and committee work, please contact Gauher Mohammad at gmohammad@dohertystaffing.com.

About Doherty Staffing Solutions
Doherty, The Employment Experts, is one of the Midwest's largest and most experienced providers of contract and temporary staffing services. Headquartered in Minneapolis for more than 30 years, Doherty offers customized workforce solutions to companies doing business in Minnesota and across the nation. Doherty is Minnesota’s largest staffing firm, Minnesota’s 2nd largest woman-owned business, and the nation’s 10th largest diversity staffing firm.  

Doherty operates multiple offices in Southern, Central, and Northern Minnesota, including Owatonna, Jackson, Mankato, Albert Lea, Marshall and Hutchinson.

Learn more about our temporary, temp-to-hire, direct hire, onsite staffing management, and placement services at www.dohertystaffing.com.

About Riverland Community College
Riverland Community College was established on July 1, 1996 with the merging of Austin Community College, Riverland Technical College, and  South Central Technical College. A part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, Riverland has campuses in Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna, Minnesota. Riverland’s vision is to be a regional leader in liberal arts and career-technical higher education and an essential link to economic and social vitality. To learn more about Riverland Community College, visit www.riverland.edu.  

[1] Ho-Kim, T. (2011, November). Understanding the Worker Needs of Manufacturers: The 2011 Minnesota Skills Gap Report. Retrieved on February 1, 2013 from http://www.positivelyminnesota.com/Data_Publications/Data/Research_Reports/Manufacturing_Skills_Gap_Surveys/2011_Skills_Gap_Full_Report.pdf

[2] Facts about Enrollment. Retrieved on February 4, 2013 from http://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=945