CCCTC shines spotlight on local manufacturing
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LISBON -- The Columbiana County Career and Technical Center in conjunction with the Columbiana County Educational Service Center Business Advisory Council (BAC) joined forces to hold a "Manufacturing Your Future Event" to introduce county students to careers in the manufacturing industry on Wednesday. Rep. Bill Johnson, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Minerals, sponsored the event.
"We are honored to host the 'Manufacturing Your Future Event' sponsored by Congressman Johnson's office. It was a great day for local students to visit local manufacturing companies, especially those that are members of the county BAC," Assistant Superintendent Jeremy Corbisello said. "When you create opportunities for students to see first-hand employment opportunities that are available here in their backyard, they can really begin to envision what their future career can look like."
The all-day event, which took students to several area businesses, began with a virtual presentation from Johnson. He encouraged the students by explaining they are the next generation that carries the responsibility of writing the next great chapter.
"You will get the reins whether you want it or not," Johnson said during his presentation. "What will you do with it?"
Johnson said he wants to break the stigma of the manufacturing industry, explaining that manufacturing facilities are not the loud and dark environments they once were, but rather clean and innovative workplaces where the possibilities are endless, expressing to the students that manufacturing is a viable career path post graduation.
Buses transported the students from districts across the county to Butech-Bliss, Ventra, CTM Labeling Systems, Compco Quaker Manufacturing, Hickey Metal Fabrication, MAC Manufacturing and Quality Water Systems in Salem and Humtown Products in Leetonia. The students were able to tour each facility and were exposed to a variety of manufacturing options from metal fabrication and welding to label design and production.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 600,000 openings for manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and jobs in manufacturing are growing fast, with many positions offering high earnings. In April 2023, the unemployment rate for people in the manufacturing industry was only 2.8 percent. Ohio is among the top states which have steadily increased manufacturing jobs from January 2021 to May 2023,with 30,800 manufacturing jobs gained.