Ottawa County businesses pleading for skilled workers

Ottawa County businesses, especially manufacturers, are pleading for skilled workers.

"Our businesses are screaming. They want a qualified workforce," said Gaye Winterfield, business and workforce development manager with the Ottawa County Improvement Corporation.

They are not alone. 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 Marion County, laid-off workers were trained in welding while still receiving food assistance. In Sandusky County, Century Die Co. offers a soapbox derby for younger children that exposes them to the manufacturer and hands-on work.

The Ottawa County Improvement Corporation is working to educate young adults about careers in the area by taking guidance counselors on tours of local manufacturers, Winterfield said.

The hope is those school officials pass on the good news that skilled careers are available locally, Winterfield said.

Cash — $500,000 donated by an anonymous Ottawa County businessman — should help in that effort. The money created the Special Initiatives Support Fund for Schools, which is earmarked for students who are not interested in going to college or completing a four-year degree. For example, about 500 students attended a career showcase at Camp Perry last fall and learned about positions at 15 area businesses.

Local leaders also recently launched a business advisory council to better communicate with industry in the area and address their concerns about the workforce.

The large number of seasonal employment opportunities can prove difficult for employers and job seekers alike.

"It is a challenge to find workers, especially because some of the positions are only seasonal. Many want full-time year-round positions," said Laura Schlachter, president of the Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce. "Many businesses are willing to invest time and money on the right candidate to get them prepared for the job."

Sam Conte, owner of Lakecraft Corporation in Port Clinton, hired an apprentice to learn the best welding techniques. However, he said it was a challenge attracting young adults to the industry.

"The welding tends to be a little dirtier, but they pay a lot better," Conte said.

Apprenticeships are popular in the area. Terra State Community College is seeing a surge in companies interested in the customized training provided by the college's Kern Center for Community and Industry Development, according to Beth Hannam, Terra's manager of business and industry training.

"It's another avenue for them to go into when seeking people with skilled trades," said Janet Quaintance, workforce development administrator at Sandusky County Job and Family Services.

Whirlpool Corporation currently has 37 candidates completing four-year programs and 19 candidates going through two-year programs, spokeswoman Juliet Johnson said. Their programs vary from electrical and mechanical work to machine shop set up and training for powder coat attendants.

"Whirlpool has found these programs to be a great way for us to recruit and build skilled talent in the Clyde area," Johnson said.

jbalmert@gannett.com

740-328-8548

Twitter: @jbalmert

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Looking for information?

Terra State Community College's Kern Center for Community and Industry Development can be reached at 800-826-2431 or http://www.terra.edu/ContinuingEducation.html. For more details on programs offered at the community college, go to www.terra.edu.