Did you know?

No. 10: Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wisc.

The center for manufacturing of machine tools and other precision equipment boosted its industrial employment 3.6% last year to 118,000 jobs.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2012/05/24/seattle-is-leading-an-american-manufacturing-revival/

As I read through the Forbes article listed above, I was thinking to myself...whoa whoa whoa; where is Wisconsin on this list? It turns out I was not disappointed as here we are- right in the mix at #10!

I can't help but celebrate that, once again, Wisconsin is recognized for its Manufacturing. We have had a visit from our country's President, national recognition from various news outlets, our Governor regularly visiting the manufacturing facilities and now most recently...the awarding of the TIME grant.

I also can't help but wonder what those numbers will look like if we continue moving forward like we have been. The interest in the grant continues to pick up, the employers are continuing to hire, the reimbursements are continuing to grow, and more and more people are getting back to work. I would like to see Wisconsin leading the way; and, if the team running this grant have anything to say about it, we will be.

I thought about providing you viewers (all the thousands of you that there are) with some updated numbers, but I think I will hold off until the next post and let the anticipation sit in a little bit.

Wisconsin is not just a bunch of cheese head Packer fans. Wisconsin is not just about Farming, Dairy and State Fairs. Wisconsin is not just about Hunting, Fishing, and the Northwood's. Wisconsin is not just about people driving at least 5 below the speed limit. Wisconsin is not just about Noah's Ark and the Wiscnsin Dells.

Wisconsin is about working together and putting people to work. Wisconsin is about creating a skilled workforce that will set the standard for the way economic and workforce development is created. Wisconsin is about making BIG things happen- some of which you don't know about yet and some of which you will hear about soon!

Forbes, take note:

Wisconsin is going to be #1 in Manufacturing --- it's only a matter of TIME...

It's only a matter of TIME.....

...... until we see a whole lot more of what you are about to read below

Hiring at home -- and even 're-shoring'

As the presidential election campaign heats up, you're almost certain to hear one line repeatedly: "The U.S. doesn't make things anymore."
It's a canard that's been kicking around since the 1980s.
Yes, there have been lean years for some types of manufacturing -- and ensuing job losses -- that have devastated some local economies.
But U.S. manufacturing didn't die; on the contrary, it's bouncing back ferociously. "The manufacturing sector is leading the recovery," says James Paulsen, an economist and market strategist with Wells Capital Management.

More than a third of the 3% growth in the gross domestic product in the fourth quarter of 2011 came from manufacturing, though the sector makes up just 11% of the economy. And during the past four months, U.S. factories have contributed 17% of the new jobs. Key indicators such as industrial production and rail freight volumes are also showing solid strength.
In fact, "manufacturing has been a true bright spot in the economy over the last few years," says Chad Moutray, an economist with the National Association of Manufacturers
.
Expect this to continue for three reasons.

First, the U.S. economy is growing, and as demand rises, producers will add capacity, says Todd Lowenstein of the HighMark Value Fiduciary Fund (HMVMX). They'll be creating jobs and buying tools, machine parts, cranes, trucks and other equipment.

Second, a middle class has emerged in the developing world because we have bought so much stuff made there. "Over the last couple decades, we were building a brand-new world to sell to," says Paulsen. To wit: Exports of manufactured goods exports jumped 15% in February, and they accounted for three-fourths of a $16 billion gain in exports, says NAM's Moutray.

Third, the idea that China will take all our manufacturing jobs is proving false. In fact, jobs are coming back home, a trend christened "re-shoring." U.S. companies are fed up with low-quality production, counterfeiting and logistical headaches, says Michael Zinser, a manufacturing-sector expert with the Boston Consulting Group, and wages in China are rising rapidly.

Please note: The source of the above information and a whole lot more can be found here: http://money.msn.com/investing/10-companies-making-more-in-the-usa-brush-2#scpti2

On another note: how about some more TIME Grant #'s?

Total # of contracts: 94

Average wage: $16.45

Total amount of reimbursements: $305,953
Total # of companies receiving benefits: 35+

In not even ONE month, we have nearly doubled our numbers!

  

     

It's TIME to think Outside the Box

               THEN                                                                NOW

 
Young Americans are shunning factory jobs because they think they are uncool. But they need to do some homework, because some positions are paying close to six figures.That's right- 6 figures! Now this may not be everywhere; but the point is, the Manufacturing industry isn't the dirty and low paying career that today's youth believe it is. Even if you don't want to take notice- Manufacturing Is and Has Been the backbone of the great state of Wisconsin for many years.

I heard a troubling statistic the other day while I was attending a dinner at the Hilton with some members of the TDMAW (Tool & Die Machining Association of Wisconsin). Our guest speaker Timothy W. Sullivan, the former CEO of Bucyrus International and currently serving as a Special Consultant to Governor Walker, presented some interesting facts during his speech. The one fact that I seem to remember vividly is this: there was a survey amongst Wisconsin residents asking them if they felt that Manufacturing could alone be the key to the economic recovery in Wisconsin.

 Do you want to know what the results were?

A staggering 70% believed this was true. Yes, 70% of those surveyed believed that Manufacturing could very well be the answer!

Of that 70% that believed in Manufacturing:

only 17% admitted that they would be willing to work in Manufacturing or would want their children working in Manufacturing.

It is time to open up the eyes of our youth. An industry that was once believed to be back-breaking and low-paying, has become high-tech and high salaried.

Please take the time to read the article below and see for yourself. We need to pass this information on to our youth- after all- the future of this country is in their hands. A skilled workforce is the foundation of a thriving economy in today's age.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/27/smallbusiness/youth_manufacturing_jobs/?source=linkedin&goback=%2Egmp_97260%2Egde_97260_member_100827196

TIME for an update!!!

Hey, Guess What??

On-the-job training works!!!

Well folks, as the month of March winds down and 80+ degree weather has already made it's appearance- I thought it may be TIME to give those who take a glance at this blog, an update.

The TIME grant, brought to you by the Department of Labor and managed by WOW Workforce Development, has taken off in the very few months since it has been active. By the numbers, it is easy to see that employers are interested and job seekers are benefitting.

Since our very first TIME On-The-Job training contract was developed on 01/19/2012- a total of 52 more have followed in it's path. For those of you that are not to keen with numbers- we put 53 people to work in a matter of approximately 60 days. Of those 53 on-the-job training contracts, the average starting wage for all 44 contracts equals out to $15.95/hr. When you calculate these numbers, a total of $187,172 is due to be reimbursed to area employers. Yes, it is that simple. In a matter of maybe two more weeks- $200,000 in free money is set to be sent directly to those employers that chose to take advantage of this magnificent job-creating program.

To make it a little easier on the eyes:

Total OJT's: 53
Average TIME wage: $15.95
Total TIME amount: $187,172
Total number of companies receiving benefits: 26

And don't forget- this is in a time span of maybe 60 days- Can you imagine what the next 3, 6, 9 month numbers will look like?

The companies are talking to one another, "Wow, that was easy." The unemployed are finding CAREERS, not just jobs. Companies are hiring! If you or somebody you know would like to get involved with this monumental grant- call our Employer Relations Unit today @ 262.695.7894

"Platform to Employment"

Today we take a look into what other Workforce Development Professionals are doing across this great country- Connecticut specifically. Watch the video below- the whole thing- and feel free to leave a comment based upon your feelings on the program. These individuals share their own personal stories of what it is like in today's world, and it appears that there might just be some light at the end of the tunnel.

Before you watch the video- give this a brief thought. This picture represents what a typical job searcher may see while browsing job postings in today's economy. This is real life for millions of Americans and what you see below suggests that those who are unemployed, through no fault of their own, may be discriminated against because of their work situation. Is this fair?

Meet the new underclass -- the four million Americans who have been unemployed for more than a year. With every additional week out of work, their chances of finding a job dwindle. It turns out that many employers don't want to hire the currently unemployed. Enter Joe Carbone, who is determined to return the American dream to the long-term unemployed in Connecticut. And he's succeeding, one job at a time. How's Carbone doing it?

Made in the USA

Bringing the JOBS back home to the United States

You may or may not have heard the term, "insourcing" before. Read the article below and feel free to discuss your thoughts and/or opinions on the transformation of our jobs back to America. It is a very interesting article!

http://news.yahoo.com/lemming-exodus-manufacturers-look-u-165814959.html;_ylc=X3oDMTNraHJvdjc4BF9TAzc2NjQ4MTEEYWN0A21haWxfY2IEY3QDYQRpbnRsA3VzBGxhbmcDZW4tVVMEcGtnA2U1NjQzMGQzLWY3YzItMzNiOS05ZGE0LWQ1ZDY4M2JlNzY4ZQRzZWMDbWl0X3NoYXJlBHNsawNtYWlsBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3

Getting to work on TIME

Putting the pieces together:

A combination of W.O.W Workforce Development, Inc, WRTP/BIG STEP, Milwaukee Gear and Waukesha County Technical College worked together for one common cause: to create jobs. On February 3, 2012- 15 individuals graduated from the interconnected program with a certificate in Entry Level Manufacturing Skills- CNC Certificate Training Program. These individuals, who come from all different aspects of life and socio-economic statuses, represent success to the fullest extent. This is the main goal of the TIME grant- to create a skillset in our workforce that enables those individuals longevity in their current position as well as assuring for their future employment. Congratulations to those graduates and we wish them nothing but success moving forward.

http://www.biztimes.com/manufacturingweekly/2012/2/6/w-o-w-grant-to-train-550-new-workers

http://wrtp.org/index.php

http://wfdc.org/

http://wctc.edu/

Manufacturing is the backbone of Southeastern Wisconsin and it is our duty to create a workforce that other's envy. There is too much negativity in the papers and news about the city of Milwaukee and surrounding areas; all this crime, poverty, segregation, etc. We need to turn this unconstructive view into a positive one. Let's make Southeastern Wisconsin a place where people and businesses want to come and grow. Let's make Wisconsin a state that represents success- where people are working together and making things happen. It is time for a new era in SE Wisconsin, a positive, energy driven era where the workforce is skilled and the work is stable. It is time to take advantage of what we have right in front of us!

All companies, big or small, can benefit from the TIME grant. Get in touch with us today by calling 262.695.7894!

OPPORTUNITY HAS KNOCKED, WILL YOU ANSWER THE DOOR?