Employers approached MAGNET (The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network) with a challenge. They needed workers and wanted to engage people underrepresented in manufacturing: women, people of color, young adults. How could MAGNET attract young people who have the misconception that manufacturing is dirty, back-breaking work? Call on your friends in youth development—Y.O.U. and Towards Employment—to help.

Leveraging public and private funding streams, the three partners created Access to Manufacturing Careers. The goal is to pair young people with high road employers, those who provide good wages, benefits, and opportunities for advancement. Twenty to 25 metalforming and welding companies are involved in the program, including Lincoln Electric, Oatey, and Swagelok.

The program is non-traditional. Instead of workforce providers using their training materials, employers developed the curriculum and are involved in the training.

In order to attract people with the interest and aptitude for a manufacturing career, Y.O.U. staff at the OhioMeansJobs|Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Young Adult Resource Center (YRC) created an online application and screening process, using a robust Learning Management System, where potential recruits view videos, take assessments, and participate in roundtables with employers. The goal is to increase excitement about and knowledge of manufacturing jobs. The YRC wanted to be sure young adults had what they needed to make informed decisions on whether to move forward with training. Once they pass this step and declare interest, young people are placed in the 120-hour, four-week paid training program.

“It’s very important we identify individuals who are committed to sticking to the program. The typical one-hour information session just wouldn’t do that,” says Debbi Perkul, Executive Director of Workforce Partnerships at MAGNET. “Y.O.U. did an excellent job creating a process that ensures we’re recruiting the right people for our employers.”

For the first 50 hours, Towards Employment instructors provide basic job training skills, such as math and how to handle conflicts at work. The next 50 hours is online with Precision Metalforming Association that introduces them to specialties in the field and basic skills like how to use tools safely. The final 20 hours is a week of hands-on classroom work (e.g. how to read blueprints) with employer instructors. And then the interviews with employers begin.

The program includes two years of coaching and wraparound services. Since employers are at the trainings, they have the opportunity to build relationships with the program participants and to serve as mentors from the beginning.

If you are an 18- to 24-year-old living in Cuyahoga County who is interested in a career in manufacturing, contact the Young Adult Resource Center to get started with your Access to Manufacturing application.