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From TikTok To Trade School: Capturing Gen Z’s Attention (Forbes)
What they’re saying: Trade and vocational schools are critical in bridging the skilled labor shortage, but they need to attract Gen Z.
- Gen Z, shaped by social media and financial pragmatism, prefers trade schools over traditional universities for cost-effective and practical education. However, trade schools must adapt by using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to reach them.
- Trade schools can succeed by emphasizing financial stability, aligning with Gen Z’s values, and using short-form videos, live sessions, and in-person events.
MI’s Solution: Participation in the MI’s national initiative MFG Day offers a way for manufacturing companies to open their doors to a new generation to future workers.
This boss vowed to help his workers with child care. It hasn’t been easy (NPR)
Why it matters: The pandemic highlighted the child care struggles of employees, prompting companies like Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry to address the issue.
- CEO Sachin Shivaram noticed workers struggling with child care, leading him to offer a $400 monthly stipend per employee for care costs.
- Efforts to build a dedicated child care center failed due to high costs, and other local businesses were hesitant to collaborate on shared solutions.
From the MI: When access to child care is a challenge, one way to help support employees in managing care responsibilities is through offering flexibility. Flexible work in manufacturing is no longer a rarity. Our Flexibility white paper gives solutions manufacturers have tested and implemented to address this challenge, and our child care case study with Abbott provides best practices for implementing child care benefits for workers.
How can more young people live the American dream? There’s a simple answer. (Washington Post)
What’s going on: Emilee Ramirez’s experience highlights the growing importance of apprenticeships in the U.S. as a viable alternative to a four-year college degree, offering hands-on training and a pathway to middle-class careers.
- With apprenticeships doubling since 2014, there’s momentum to expand these programs, particularly in fields like construction, manufacturing, and tech.
- However, apprenticeships still only account for 0.4% of the U.S. workforce. To scale this model, a nationwide credentialing system and increased federal investment are needed.
- As states and companies push to grow apprenticeships, the next president has an opportunity to significantly expand these programs, potentially creating millions of new career opportunities
From the MI: FAME, created by Toyota and now managed by the MI, is an earn-and-learn model that develops highly skilled, professional and sought-after talent who can meet the unique needs and challenges of today’s modern manufacturing workforce.
