Workforce News
New in the Document Library: Oregon's Future Workforce Needs Analysis
There’s a lot of talk and opinion out there about Oregon’s workforce strengths and weaknesses, but the foremost account on the viability of Oregon's future workforce can be found in the report "Oregon's Future Workforce Needs Analysis." This is the definitive study of what the statistics truly tell us about the current state of Oregon’s workforce and it future needs. The purpose of the study was to provide a focused, future oriented investment strategy for Oregon that will ultimately drive shared prosperity. The study makes twelve specific recommendations for moving forward.
CBS News Video Story: Building Jobs -In Manufacturing Hard Times, Good Jobs
A March 12, 2008 feature on CBS evening news featuring the news that good jobs are available in manufacturing.
With half the nation's 14 million manufacturing workers nearing retirement, 90 percent of America's manufacturers say they are short qualified workers.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/11/eveningnews/main3926349.shtml
Oregon wins $5 million, 3-year federal grant to strengthen manufacturing workforce
SALEM — Oregon’s North Willamette Valley is one of 13 areas nationwide selected to receive a $5 million, three-year federal grant to expand and improve its manufacturing workforce. The Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grants were announced in Washington June 20 by U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.
Governor Ted Kulongoski praised the public-private partnership of regional workforce boards, business associations, economic development organizations and the state of Oregon that worked together to win the competitive grant.
Manufacturing Apprenticeship Summit in SW Oregon brings business
ROSEBURG — Over the next decade, Oregon will need 50,000 new manufacturing workers, primarily to fill openings created by retiring baby boomers. Many of these will be in the skilled trades.
Business and labor leaders in Southwest Oregon see apprenticeship as an important strategy to fill the gap. On June 19, more than 50 stakeholders in the Oregon’s apprenticeship system convened at Umpqua Community College (UCC) to discuss the role of apprenticeships in helping fill the regions’ critical shortage of skilled workers.
Manufacturing is still a big part of the Oregon economy
Rumors of its demise are greatly exaggerated. Oregon’s manufacturing sector still provides more than 200,000 payroll jobs and more than $10 billion per year in payroll – exceeded by only two other sectors. In 2006 the manufacturing sector accounted for one-in-eight payroll jobs in Oregon and one-in-six payroll dollars earned, higher than the national shares.