November/December 2005—Issue Number 34

Report Shows Broadening Skills Gap Threatens U.S. Manufacturing Competitiveness
According to the 2005 Skills Gap Report released in November by the National Association of Manufacturers, The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte Consulting, more than 80 percent of manufacturers surveyed are experiencing an overall shortage of qualified workers that cuts across industry sectors. The pain is most acute on the front line, where 90 percent report a shortage of qualified skilled production employees, including machinists, operators, craft workers, distributors and technicians. Engineers and scientists are also in short supply, with 65 percent of respondents reporting current deficiencies. Nearly three out of four manufacturers surveyed believe that a high performance workforce is the most important driver of future business success. The survey findings underscore that the human capital performance gap is emerging as our nation’s most pressing business issue. To read the full report, go to 2005 Skills Gap.

National Summit on Competitiveness Calls for Action on an Innovation Agenda
The National Summit on Competitiveness: Investing in U.S. Innovation hosted by the National Association of Manufacturers and five other national organizations, including The Business Roundtable, was convened at the U.S. Department of Commerce to focus the attention of the nation’s leaders on the bottom-line impact of standing still in a rapidly changing world. On Dec. 6, 2005, more than 55 corporate CEOs, university presidents and scientists from across the country participated in a day-long summit during which they pressed cabinet secretaries and members of Congress for more research and development funding; a greater emphasis on science, math and engineering education; immigration reform for highly educated, highly skilled foreign nationals and support for development of advanced technologies as an agenda to keep the U.S. economy globally competitive.

The summit was cochaired by NAM board members James G. Berges, retired president and senior advisor of Emerson and Richard Templeton, president and CEO of Texas Instruments. For more information and the summit statement, go to Competitiveness Summit.

The Manufacturing Institute/Center for Workforce Success Launches Veteran Hiring Partnership with RecruitMilitary
This past Veteran’s Day, the MI/CWS established a veteran hiring initiative to promote the hiring of military veterans through online employment mechanisms created by RecruitMilitary, LLC, (RM) the nation's only full-service military-to-civilian recruiting company. This initiative provides a great way for the NAM’s manufacturing companies to meet their staffing needs by hiring skilled military veterans via RecruitMilitary’s online recruiting tools. Employers that participate in the MI/CWS initiative obtain access to RM’s database of 94,500 registered job candidates who have a military background, the ability to post jobs at the RM site and the ability to send e-mail blasts to selected categories of candidates. NAM members also receive a special discount for their participation. For more information, visit the MI/CWS Web site at RecruitMilitary.

Limited English and Literacy Skills Are Biggest Barrier to Productivity in Immigrant Workers
According to a recent report from The Manufacturing Institute/Center for Workforce Success, Closing the Immigrant Skills Gap, immigrants are the fastest-growing segment of the workforce and will be in high demand as the competition for skilled workers heats up. However, 88 percent of over 300 respondents to a national survey conducted in partnership with Jobs for the Future and the Urban Institute cited poor English skills among immigrant workers. The majority believe their immigrant workers have adequate work skills, but that immigrant productivity could be much improved by enhancing their reading, writing and verbal English skills. To read the complete report, go to Closing the Immigrant Skills Gap.

Exceptional Workplace Programs Increase Recruitment, Retention and Productivity of Lower-Wage Employees
According to a recent study by Corporate Voices for Working Families, specific employers have decreased turnover and absenteeism, increased productivity, enhanced team atmosphere and increased profits through adopting workplace strategies that support the particular needs of lower-wage employees. The report, Model Workplace Supports for Lower-Wage Employees, details the best practices of several companies, including NAM member Eastman Kodak, which sees their "Flexible Work Arrangements" program as benefiting both the employer and employee. To view the complete report, go to Model Workplace.

photo: Kurstin Roe/Reflections Photography/Washington, DC