QCC Engages South County Businesses in Discussion on Solving the Manufacturing Skills Shortage

Worcester, MA – June 11, 2014 – With Governor Deval Patrick’s recent grant award of $2 million for advanced manufacturing equipment, QCC is positioned to provide new resources and opportunities for students interested in advance manufacturing careers, as well as assist local manufacturers with employment needs. According to a new study from Accenture in collaboration with The Manufacturing Institute, “The severe shortage of manufacturing skills in the United States has the potential to impede the trend of steady growth in US Manufacturing.” QCC plans to step up and train
individuals to fill these open positions.

Yesterday at the Publick House in Sturbridge, QCC hosted a group of South Country manufacturing companies to engage in conversation about the urgent need for a skilled manufacturing workforce and the College’s plans to provide those employees. QCC’s goal is to create a new Innovation Technology Assistance Center (ITAC) in Southbridge with valuable input from local companies. Among the companies participating at yesterday’s event were Hyde Tools, Inc., IPG Photonics, Southbridge Sheet Metal Works, Otto Consulting LLC., Swissturn USA, United Lens and others including employment agencies such as Central MA Regional Employment Board, and Workforce Central.

In QCC President Gail Carberry’s presentation, she advised the group of the facts that manufacturing companies already know too well, “more than 50% of companies report plans to increase US-based production by at least five percent in the next five years. More than 75 percent report a moderate to severe shortage of skilled resources, and US manufacturers face reduced earnings of up to 11 percent annually due to increased production costs and revenue losses resulting from skills shortages.”* At the end of her presentation, President Carberry opened the floor to questions and a dialogue ensued amongst attendees.

QCC will actively collaborate with local manufacturers to incorporate technology and skills training at the new ITAC Center that will be necessary for highly trained manufacturing employees to gain employment.

* Accenture 2014 Manufacturing Skills and Training Study