Cincinnati’s Crisis in Manufacturing | As High-Paying Jobs Go Unfilled, Companies Expand National Manufacturing Day to Month-Long Campaign

Cincinnati’s Crisis in Manufacturing | As High-Paying Jobs Go Unfilled, Companies Expand National Manufacturing Day to Month-Long Campaign
Rhinestahl AMG Hosting Plant Event for 30 students from West Clermont Local Schools on Friday, October 5, 10 AM to Noon

(Cincinnati, Ohio) October 1, 2018 — There are hundreds of high-paying jobs in manufacturing unfilled right now. Greater Cincinnati is a hub for top manufacturing companies, which are part of a dominant and rapidly growing industry in our region, yet students are not choosing manufacturing as a career path. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) reports 7 out of 10 Americans consider manufacturing a backbone of the economy, but only 3 in 10 respondents would encourage their children to pursue a manufacturing career.

The crisis in Cincinnati reflects the national scene. Over the next decade, nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will be created and more than two million are expected to go unfilled, according to NAM.

In response to the critical workforce shortage locally, manufacturing companies have come together in partnership with area schools to celebrate National Manufacturing Day…for an entire month in Greater Cincinnati. Manufacturing Day is a national event to support manufacturers as they showcase modern manufacturing technology and careers. In Greater Cincinnati, Friday, October 5 is just the beginning as companies and schools are partnering throughout the month.

Rhinestahl AMG will open its doors on Friday, October 5 to more than 30 students from West Clermont Local Schools. Planned activities include multiple presentations and an extensive plant tour. Students will learn about industry-changing projects, critical skills for precision-manufactured parts, and advanced manufacturing technologies.

Manufacturing Month in Greater Cincinnati consists of approximately 53 events locally. This year’s activities are spread throughout the month to allow more than 4,000 high school and middle school students to experience today’s manufacturing environment first-hand at more than 50 participating employers.

“This isn’t your grandfather’s manufacturing job,” said Amy Meyer, chair of the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership, a coalition of employers, educators and community organizations in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana working together through Partners for a Competitive Workforce to help meet current and future manufacturing workforce needs.

“We need incredible problem-solvers with excellent math, physical science and computer skills. We want to excite students early and get them thinking about a career technology path for their junior and senior years of high school, so they can start co-op programs with us. They will have the skills to be immediately employable in higher-than-average-wage jobs right out of high school. And many manufacturers will pay college tuition costs for students who want to pursue two-and four-year degrees,” said Meyer.

“Advanced manufacturing is growing rapidly and there are great, high-paying jobs at companies like Rhinestahl and many others right here, right now,” said Dieter Moeller, CEO and President of Rhinestahl Corporation. “At Rhinestahl, we make high precision parts that are transforming industries including the space, aerospace, aviation and defense industries. When students and parents see our facility and the work we do, they want to be a part of it,” said Moeller.

Manufacturing Fast Facts
• In 2016, the average manufacturing worker in the United States earned $82,023 annually, including pay and benefits.
• Manufacturers have one of the highest percentages of workers who are eligible for health benefits provided by their employers.
• Over the next decade, nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will be created and more than two million are expected to go unfilled.
• 7 out of 10 Americans consider manufacturing a backbone of the economy, but only 3 in 10 respondents would encourage their children to pursue a manufacturing career.

Source: The National Association of Manufacturers – http://www.nam.org/Newsroom/Facts-About-Manufacturing/

To learn more about the Rhinestahl event, contact Amy Meyer (513) 382-5756. To learn more about other efforts taking place among partner organizations throughout Greater Cincinnati to promote advanced manufacturing careers and alleviate this critical workforce shortage, contact Kristine Glenn, The Marketing Pack, (513) 317-3890.
###