Bridging the skills gap in Zanesville

As the demand for qualified machinists grew, Mid-East Career and Technical Centers restarted its welding, machining and manufacturing program, investing about $300,000 into equipment for the class.

"The timing couldn't be any better," machine tooling instructor Gary Abel said. "There just aren't enough qualified machinists out there."

The program, which laid dormant for several years, restarted this school year with 11 students. They are instructed in safe, efficient operation of machine tools, use of measuring tools, blueprint reading and shop math that is necessary for the trade, Abel said. They start on manual machines before moving to computer-controlled ones.

The course has an advisory committee of area professionals, who conducted a survey to learn more about the demand for machinists, salaries and outlook for the field, Abel said.

"It was very pleasing, because it showed there was a high demand in the area for machinists," he said.

Across Ohio, communities are working to connect employers with skilled employees by identifying where candidates' skills are lacking, building relationships between employers and schools, creating niche programs and inspiring children to look at local industries when selecting a career.

The Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation creates regular reports on in-demand jobs, provides career advice through one-stop centers in each county and creates incentives for businesses that work with educational institutions. Last year, six pilot programs received grants to place more than 75 percent of the 500 trainees into jobs by the end of the programs, which range from training health care workers in Appalachian Ohio to insurance workers in central Ohio.

In Licking County, a new program took dozens of high school students on tours of three local manufacturers to educate them about job opportunities in their area. In Ross County, an area business invested in the hospital's education of nurses to stem the demand for skilled health care workers in the area.

Locally, Mid-East Career and Technical Centers staff uses relationships with employers on their advisory committees to gain insight into what local businesses are looking for in their graduates, superintendent Tom Perkins said.

He learned employers were not finding employees who would come to work on time and take initiative while there. He was surprised that needed to be taught but it was worked into the curriculum to address those concerns, Perkins said.

That's something Steve Gaswint, president of Black Run Transmission in Nashport, has seen firsthand.

"We have a hard time finding the right person for the job," Gaswint said. "Increasingly, the problem isn't the skills as much as the work ethic."

Some of Gaswint's best employees are local people who don't want to drive to Columbus for work. Those who come from miles away, such as New Lexington, are going to have a hard time making it to work when the roads are covered in snow.

The Muskingum Valley Education Service Center and Zanesville-Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce are working on better connecting employers with young adults, chamber president Tom Poorman said.

They plan to survey local employers this summer about what they are already doing to connect young adults with jobs. Several companies offer internships, apprenticeships and summer jobs but those efforts are rarely coordinated, he said.

Poorman already hears from employers that they are having trouble filling industrial maintenance and commercial driver's license positions. There are local programs to fill those gaps, but they often are underutilized, Poorman said.

"At the local level, we need to do a better job connecting young people with actual employers so they are exposed to the actual workplace," Poorman said.

Mid-East Career and Technical Centers' Zanesville locations has 22 high school juniors enrolled in its nursing technology program, which can lead to the in-demand career of state-tested nursing assistants immediately or other positions in health care later on, said Stephanie Winsor, health technology instructor.

Winsor meets with advisory committee members twice a year to make sure the classes line up with the needs of the industry. Students work in local health care settings and frequently get jobs in the area, Winsor said.

Zane State College also offers several programs to address job demands in the area.

Policing is getting more technical every day. In the past, law enforcement officers would graduate from the police academy and start work, said John Gibson, director of the criminal justice program at Zane State College.

"(Now,) the higher education you have, it gives you the potential to be more successful," Gibson said. It's not uncommon for sergeants and captains to have bachelor's and master's degrees. "It's just kind of the way of the world. It seems like they are getting younger and armed with advanced degrees."

Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz said he has benefited from having Zane State's criminal justice program and Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in his backyard. He serves on the board for the criminal justice program, providing feedback on what his office is looking for in employees.

After graduation, qualified applicants assigned the role of special deputy, a volunteer position that allows individuals to ride along with other police officers and learn about job. Muskingum County Sheriff's Office often pulls from that pool when selecting paid deputies, Lutz said.

"When you start hiring local people, they have a vested interest in your community," Lutz said. "We're fairly young right now and we've had some good hires."

By collaborating with local law enforcement and prisons, the Zane State program has been successful in helping those students find work in the area.

"A very high percentage find jobs or find work," Gibson said.

jbalmert@gannett.com

740-328-8548

Twitter: @jbalmert

Looking for a job?

Details about local job openings are available at OhioMeansJobs.com.

Looking for information?

Mid-East Career and Technical Centers is hosting a showcase of its facilities and students' work from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 7. Food will be provided. For information about adult education, call 740-455-3111. For details on the high school program, call 740-454-0101 or visit http://www.mid-east.k12.oh.us.

Information about Zane State College's programs is available at www.zanestate.edu or by calling 740-454-2501.