Going with the Flow (Sponsor Letter)

Paula Adams, President, Penmac Staffing

As president of Penmac Staffing, I know firsthand that employers are facing unprecedented challenges in the labor market. This year, 70% of Springfield Business Journal’s 2022 Economic Growth Survey respondents stated that access to skilled workers has worsened over the last year, and a skilled workforce and talent acquisition/retention ranked Nos. 2 and 3 respectively as the biggest issues for businesses.

The majority of Penmac’s business is hiring for industrial employers, and it is clear that finding skilled, reliable industrial workers is a huge challenge. Manufacturers surveyed by Penmac reported that finding the right talent is now 36% harder than it was in 2018, even though the unemployment rate has nearly doubled the supply of available workers.

The manufacturing skills gap in the U.S. could result in 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030, according to a new study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers.

As vice chair of the Ozarks Technical Community College Board of Trustees, I also know that educators are working hard to meet these challenges.

The opening of the Robert W. Plaster Center for Advanced Manufacturing on Aug. 15 was a proud day for OTC and the Ozarks as a whole. This cutting-edge facility serves as a regional hub for all advanced manufacturing and technology-related education and training at OTC. The opportunities for hands-on training in simulations of real-world environments will give students a major advantage as they move into the workforce in the near future.

The PMC was designed with the long-term future in mind, as well. The facility is designed with engaging, interactive exhibits for young students to enjoy on field trips and be inspired by the possibilities of advanced manufacturing.

I hope schools throughout the Ozarks will bring students to visit the PMC, and that they will also look for ways to incorporate future-minded skills training into their overall curriculum. We must prepare our young people for a future working in roles that we can’t yet imagine. Students (and adults) must be able to build on their existing knowledge and skills to continually learn, adapt and innovate.