The middle is on demand

There is a lack of employees with needed skills in Albany, NY. So much so that it even has a name - the "middle skills gap." As it turns out, the demand for manufacturing jobs is high.

"Middle skills manufacturing jobs don't require a college degree. But they do require the type of knowledge that many people don't carry around with them these days — like basic shop math and knowing how to read a blueprint to a grasp of mechanical and electrical principles."

Hudson Valley Communiy College is working with CEG to get people educated and trained quickly so they can fill these open positions. They can then go on and study further. The program, Manufacturing Technology Pathways, was based on a successful program in Massachusetts.

Recommended ReadLaying down the path to manufacturing jobsSource: http://www.timesunion.com

Something called the "middle skills gap" is holding back the Capital Region's manufacturing sector. And people with middle skills are hard to find these days. Middle skills manufacturing jobs don't require a college degree. But they do require the type of knowledge that many people don't carry around with them these days — like basic shop math and knowing how to read a blueprint to a grasp of mechanical and electrical principles. Lacking those skills, they're unable to fill these basic positions in the region's manufacturing sector — jobs like assemblers, machinists, electronics technicians and tool and die makers. Read More