Manufacturing, Technology: Saving The Workforce
by Emily McGrath
(NAPSI)—If you have a job—or wish you did—or a child in school, a new way of looking at technology, education and the world of work may prove good news for you.
COVID-19 has deeply affected both the American workforce and higher education, with community college enrollment down nationwide. This poses a dire challenge, as community colleges serve as a critical pipeline in making universities and advanced fields accessible to a broader population, while also exposing students to new educational pathways across various industries. With enrollment down and workforce numbers at a tipping point, these institutions of opportunity need momentum to drive motivation back to where it was before the pandemic—starting with the next generation of diverse advanced manufacturing workers.
Thanks to explosive growth in such sectors as flexible hybrid electronics (FHE), in the next few years industry leaders will serve as intermediaries between technical fields of the future and the workforce that’s needed. Equipping community colleges with programs that serve this transition will help bolster a new American workforce, powered by advanced manufacturing and FHE and other technology. Increased demand for both awareness-boosting and skill-building programs will help drive technology development and subsequent commercial proliferation of FHE and the greater advanced manufacturing industry.
While the tech workforce hasn’t been immune to disruption from COVID-19, it remains a field expected to have one of the biggest demands for a skilled workforce in the future. The pandemic has temporarily reduced that workforce; there’s a promising future for advanced manufacturing in 2021 and beyond.
To match these growing markets, there will be an increasing demand for workshops and seminars that showcase the benefits the technology offers for diverse application spaces, as FHE technology continues to mature and demonstrate its potential to transform advanced manufactured products. This includes more defense and industrial demand for engineers with the knowledge, skills and abilities to design and manufacture FHE-enabled products as the technology nears commercialization.
This is where community colleges come in. They will play a vital role, acting as a bridge to help new high school graduates and adults looking to change career paths meet the academic and industry players that will help develop the new workforce.
• Ms. Mcgrath is Director of Workforce Development at NextFlex, an organization that facilitates technology innovation and commercialization, accelerates manufacturing workforce development, and promotes a sustainable ecosystem for advanced manufacturing. Learn more at www.nextflex.us.
On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
Recent The Record News Articles
Discuss This Article
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST THE RECORD NEWS
- We've Moved to www.buffstaterecord.com!
- Obama divulges new higher education initiative during visit to UB
- Ailing Podolefsky steps down as president
- SUNY appoints Cohen interim president
- President Podolefsky announces leave to fight cancer
- Rappers put Pepsi in a bind
- Congrats to grads: take next step with gratitude
RECENT THE RECORD CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- Infinity Kings: Final Book In A Favorite Fantasy Series
- What You Need To Know About Keratoconus and the iLink...
- Your Child’s Tomorrow Begins Today
- Choose Beer Grown Here: Anheuser-Busch is First to Adopt...
- Helping Alleviate Children’s Anxiety
- Vitamins and Minerals: Fortifying Against Poor Oral Health
- Do you PHIT? Why A Career in Public Health Informatics...
- Do you PHIT? Why A Career in Public Health Informatics...
- Shining a Spotlight on Kidney Health: Get to Know Your...
- Phony Investment “Opportunities” Can Cost You Big, Say...
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- Ash Carter Exchange Showcases Innovation and National...
- AI Expo for National Competitiveness Announces Key Sponsor
- 2102: PRETENSE, THE PLAY: New Literary Novel Overlays...
- Why It's Important to Talk About Inheriting Wealth
- 100% of Latino Grads Start Trades Careers With Centro...
- Sound Solutions: How Generative AI is Enhancing Business...
- Wow Your Easter Guests With A Very Easy Spring Surprise...
- Tips to savor springtime and reflect on li...
- BookTrib’s Bites: Four Captivating Reads
- Wow Your Easter Guests With Easy Spring Surprise Cake