By Stefan Yablonski
The Central New York’s workforce climate was changing well before Micron announced its plans to build a microchip factory in Clay.
“CNY manufacturers had been struggling to resolve the ‘skilled worker shortage’ challenge for years,” according to Eileen Donovan, senior workforce development specialist at MACNY. “The anticipation of Micron’s arrival has accelerated the need to prepare our emerging workforce for both existing and future positions in advanced manufacturing.”
MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, has been working to address this challenge with its employer members, community partners and legislators at all levels across the state.
In 2017, MACNY became the first association of its kind in New York state to be approved by the NYSDOL to group sponsor advanced manufacturing trades (MIAP — the Manufacturers Intermediary Apprenticeship Program — funded in part by the New York state budget).
“Since 2017 and in alliance with trade association members through New York state, MIAP has enabled manufacturers to offer registered apprenticeship programs on their worksites while MACNY or a regional MIAP partner manages DOL compliance,” Donovan explained.
Registered apprenticeship is a benefit to employers as it provides standardized training and education to help sustain companies’ futures, even as their highly skilled workers are retiring.
An employer that offers registered apprenticeship signals to a prospective employee that they are prepared to invest in that worker’s development, thereby improving retention probabilities, she added.
A registered apprentice employee earns a nationally-recognized journey worker credential, having been trained on the job and gaining college credits — without college debt.
The program has grown statewide since 2017, with more than 965 individuals registered.
In the past year, MACNY has launched direct entry pre-apprenticeship programs.
“Real-Life Rosies focuses on women in manufacturing; Advance 2 apprenticeship targets individuals with disabilities. These programs seek to address underrepresented groups, like women and others, in manufacturing and to remove some of the traditional obstacles to these well-paying, high-demand positions,” Donovan said. “The goal for the participants is that they find themselves employed in a local company that offers registered apprenticeship. In conjunction with community partners such as SUNY, the Workforce Investment Board, CNY Works and the Alliance Partners throughout the state, MACNY is working to expand Direct Entry programs like these across the state.
“We have long been aware of the fact that future skilled workers need exposure to manufacturing well before they graduate from high school,” she said. “MACNY’s affiliate organization, Partners for Education and Business, has worked for the past 30 years with school districts and employers to bridge the gap between high school and future employment. PEB has managed the career exploration component of the P-TECH initiative with several school districts and has expanded its services through BOCES contracts and other Career and Technical Education programs in Central New York and beyond.”
There are companies in Oswego County that offer registered apprenticeship programs under MACNY sponsorship: N.E.T. and Die and Huhtamaki in Fulton, are examples.
Canastota NC runs a registered apprentice program under its own sponsorship (although MACNY got them started).
Novelis runs what they call an apprenticeship program, but it doesn’t result in a journey worker credential. “I know they have been exploring the possibility of rolling out a registered apprentice program, but I’m not sure where they are with that,” Donavan added. “Our best educational partners for Oswego County employers are Cayuga Community College, Onondaga Community College, CitiBOCES and OCM BOCES.”
Said Matthew Cook, district superintendent of the Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES, “OCM BOCES has always had a good working relationship with MACNY; but that has ramped up since the Micron announcement. Our adult education programs work very closely with MACNY, CenterState CEO and all the partners in the workforce development field to ensure that people in our region can maximize the opportunities to develop skills they will need for employment.”
Cook added, “In addition to that, we have had productive conversations with MACNY about our K-12 programming and how to get students energized, especially in the STEM fields related to advanced manufacturing and the supply chain jobs that are coming to our region.”
