Ohio ready to help address region's problems filling jobs as workforce remains tight

JACKSON TWP. – MAC Trailer is hoping to fill hundreds of jobs but can't find enough workers in the region, so the company has started looking outside Ohio for potential employees.

Michael A. Conny, owner of MAC Trailer, said the company is prepared to provide housing for workers who take jobs at the Alliance-based manufacturer. The problem has been finding people with the skills and training the company requires.

Conny shared his company's situation during a roundtable discussion Thursday morning with Lt. Gov. Jon Husted at Stark State College. Other area employers and development leaders participated in the meeting.

Finding people to fill jobs continues to be a challenge for local companies, as well as businesses around the state.

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Representatives from Aultman Health Foundation, Cleveland Clinic Mercy Medical Center, Hendrickson, Clampco Products, Stark Industrial Supply and other companies outlined issues finding workers.

Several people discussed how partnering with Stark State has helped alleviate their employment problem.

Ohio's TechCred aims to help train workers

Husted — who with Gov. Mike DeWine is seeking re-election in November — said the state is prepared to help.

He cited the TechCred program, which launched July 1 and is available through the month. TechCred helps businesses address workforce needs with grants to cover training costs for workers.

More Ohioans need to take advantage of the various state programs that address workforce issues, Husted said.

Workforce problems are solved when businesses, development groups and educators come together to address issues within their region, Husted said. A regional approach to a problem is better than a statewide approach because each region faces different issues and had different cultures, he said.

Husted said his experience suggests that communities pull together "and build a regional solution for your regional opportunity. There is no such thing as a statewide solution."

Para Jones, Stark State president, told business leaders the college is prepared to work with them to develop regional solutions. "We're here to serve you here at Stark State."

Retirements reducing Ohio's labor force

Demographic changes are a factor in workforce changes, Husted said. Birth rates have dropped over the past 50 years. Workers from the baby Boom generation retire, and there aren't enough younger workers available to replace them.

That's created the tight job market and is a reason why more needs to be done to prepare people for jobs.

"In American we cannot afford to leave anyone behind. We need everybody, every high school student, to graduate career-ready," Husted said

Steps also should be taken to help older workers who weren't afforded training opportunities, and to train people who have been incarcerated or are recovering from drug addiction, he said.

Husted cited the OhioMeansJobs.com website, which lists more than 224,000 jobs available, including more than 130,000 paying more than $50,000 per year. Meanwhile, there are 45,000 people around the state who are unemployed, he said.

The state is prepared to help, Husted said. "We have the resources, we can help cut the red tape."

During his visit, Husted toured and met with students at the W.R. Timken Advanced Manufacturing Lab in Stark State's Advanced Technology Center. The lab allows students to learn how to operate various machinery, which Stark State acquired thanks to an Ohio TechNet grant.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Jon Husted: Ohio ready to help region solve tight labor market