At a recent State Chamber networking event at Christiana Mall, attendees heard from general manager Steve Chambliss and Delaware Department of Labor secretary John McMahon about the difficulties retailers are having filling the upwards of 700 seasonal jobs currently available at the Mall.
These difficulties stem in large part from an unqualified labor pool struggling to find employment and lacking both the necessary hard and soft skills. The Department of Labor has instituted a program to train candidates not only in how to write a resume and interview for a job, but also goes so far as to donate appropriate clothing to wear at an interview. At locations around the state, The Division of Employment and Training (DET) provides services enabling employers and job seekers to make informed employment and training choices leading to employment. Through a one stop website, https://joblink.delaware.gov, employers can list jobs, candidates can build a resume and also peruse career lattices in six industries to research what skills and education are required to be successful in those industries. The industries in the lattice include information technology, finance, manufacturing, restaurant hospitality, gateway and wholesale/retail and within each lattice there are several paths or “tracks” that can be explored allowing candidates to find more information about an occupation, how to “climb the ladder” within an industry as well as average pay scale. The Department of Labor reports that annually over 50,000 job seekers and career changes post their resume and search for opportunities in Delaware JobLink. For more information, visit https://joblink.delaware.gov.
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by Rustyn Stoops
Delaware Technical Community College, The Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership (DEMEP) and the Delaware Manufacturing Association (DMA) joined together in response to Governor Jack Markell’s proclamation of Delaware Manufacturing Week (Sept. 28-Oct 2), which coincides with National Manufacturing Day, October 2. The weeklong celebration of manufacturing in Delaware was created to recognize that manufacturing has a powerful and positive impact on Delaware’s economy. Delaware Tech’s President, Dr. Mark Brainard, is an advocate for the manufacturing community and is proud of the College’s efforts to work with the DMA and other partners to educate the next generation of modern manufacturing workers in Delaware – from high school students to adult learners. DEMEP and DMA worked together to organize tours during manufacturing week for high school and college students at several manufacturers throughout the state. Those tours will show the variety of career paths available to Delaware graduates and the value of a technical education. Participating companies include Eagle Group, ILC, PPG, Edgewell Personal Products, DENTSPLY/Caulk, Beracah Homes, Fujifilm and Bloom Energy. Along with showcasing their products these companies are proud to show their modern, high-tech workspaces and value they bring to the Delaware economy and local communities. To learn more or to get involved in a tour next year, contact me at rstoops1@dtcc.edu. by James DeChene
Recently Bloomberg magazine ran an article ranking the top 100 metro areas by their number of STEM jobs, and Wilmington was #18. Capturing these “advanced industries” as a way to replace high paying manufacturing jobs that have either been relocated or eliminated, the article points out investments various metro areas have made to entice companies to stay and expand—ideas like “tactical urbanism” including craft beer and food trucks, turning former industrial spaces into lofts—all are things the City of Wilmington has been focused on, and rightly so. Another positive is Delaware’s low cost of living. On the ranking, Wilmington comes in at 29. The State Chamber of Commerce and the Delaware Manufacturing Association have been a part of the STEM movement in Delaware. The successful launch of the Advanced Manufacturing curriculum between DelTech and local high schools has led to a downstate expansion of the program, with Kent County to follow in the next year. Other schools coming on line like the Delaware STEM Academy will give Delaware students the opportunity to learn skills in high demand for the future, and the hope is that there will be local companies waiting for, and grabbing up, these students to grow the state’s STEM workforce by leaps and bounds. When one thinks about Manufacturing, many times they have an outdated image of a dirty environment with an emphasis on tough physical labor. Women displayed their capability in the field of manufacturing during World War II, as they kept the factories humming. Today’s manufacturing environments, especially in high tech companies, are very different than that. In some cases, they are sanitized controlled environments. Historically, it has been difficult to find many women in jobs higher-level jobs. But in today’s world of manufacturing, women who have graduated with degrees in engineering, sciences and business are progressing through the ranks to management and executive roles. These individuals are seeing how exciting a career in manufacturing can be and are energized by the fast moving pace and global nature of roles in the industry.
Locally, Agilent Technologies is a high tech company that manufactures instrumentation for the Analytical and Life Sciences markets. Products produced here in Delaware are Gas Chromatographs and Mass Spectrometers. Liza Bartle is a Senior Director of Manufacturing, located in Delaware where she manages instrument manufacturing in Wilmington, Singapore and Shanghai. She is a good example of how individuals move around to different jobs today and eventually find areas that they love. Having graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Mathematics, she began teaching high school math and working on getting an MBA. After receiving the MBA, also from her alma mater, she moved to Hewlett-Packard where she held positions in several departments, such as human resources and quality assurance. However, the opportunity to move into the world of manufacturing introduced her to the role she has enjoyed most, her current one. The fast pace of needing to meet shipment and revenue plans and introducing new products made for a very interesting and challenging job. HP spun off Agilent Technologies in 1999 and in 2006; Liza’s role grew bigger as she began managing both the Wilmington and Shanghai manufacturing teams, taking a much more global view. Meeting suppliers in China and helping them to understand the quality level required for Agilent products required developing better communication skills. And in 2014, Liza expanded her job again and took over managing the manufacturing team in Singapore. With each additional team, the job got more interesting and fun. Opportunities to bring people together, across cultures and time zones, to share their experiences and knowledge is a true pleasure for Liza. Developing others and seeing them grow to bigger roles has been the most rewarding aspect of all. As manufacturing jobs are growing again, both in Delaware and in the US, it is a great time for women to engage in the function of manufacturing and enjoy the benefits of a career that is rewarding and fun. By James DeChene
The News Journal recently highlighted the expansion of Delaware’s Pathways to Prosperity program, featuring the advanced manufacturing component currently entering its second year in New Castle County, and entering its pilot year in Sussex County. The program was spearheaded through a partnership between the Delaware Manufacturing Association, Del Tech, the Markell Administration and the Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership as a way to provide advanced manufacturing skills in high school to help prepare students for either a career directly out of high school, or as a spring board to an advanced degree in fields such as mechanical or electrical engineering. The first year saw over 30 enrolled in the program, featuring both classroom and hands on training, with a paid summer “craftsmanship” (think internship, but more hands on) following. Graduates of the two year program will receive a nationally recognized certificate giving them a head start on the hiring process. By James DeChene
15 Delaware companies recently signed onto a coalition letter urging Congress to pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation. TPA is vital because economic growth and job creation at home depend on our ability sell American goods and services to the 95% of the world’s customers living outside the U.S. Many Americans are already seizing these opportunities. Nationally, one in four manufacturing jobs depends on exports, and one in three acres on American farms is planted for consumers overseas. Here in Delaware trade plays a big role in our economy. Trade supports more than 120,000 jobs in the state, and our state’s exports of goods and services last year reached $8.5 billion. The letter’s details can be found here. The Delaware companies listed were:
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