Ohio’s manufacturing industry, one of the largest in the United States, is experiencing a substantial workforce shortage. The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association estimates that 35,000 new workers are needed annually to meet demand and replace retiring employees. In 2024, the sector’s gross domestic product in Ohio exceeded $137.9 billion.

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To address this critical need, the Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers’ Coalition launched the Made in Appalachia program a year ago. Funded by $3 million in state funding, the initiative aims to equip people participating in behavioral health recovery programs with essential manufacturing skills.

Hunter Warsinsky, the workforce program manager for Made in Appalachia, emphasized the importance of breaking the stigma associated with manufacturing jobs and providing opportunities. “We want to get individuals in recovery off the sidelines and give them an opportunity to get a family sustaining wage job, and at the same time help the manufacturing field in our area,” Warsinsky stated.

Southeast Ohio has been particularly affected by the opioid epidemic, and individuals in recovery often face challenges finding employment. The Made in Appalachia program seeks to bridge this gap by offering training in areas such as resume creation, welding, operating 6,000-watt lasers, and 3D printing.

In its first year, Made in Appalachia connected with over 50 individuals. Christian Noland, a program participant who is 120 days sober, expressed his interest in manufacturing, noting, “It’s fun. I like working with computers. And they’re always looking for workers doing manufacturing.”

Colt Morningstar, Made in Appalachia’s workforce program coordinator, highlighted the practical barriers participants face, such as transportation to training or childcare. “We really have to meet them where they’re at,” Morningstar said, emphasizing that a lack of opportunity, not a lack of desire, often hinders these individuals.

While one participant has been hired by a local manufacturer so far, Morningstar believes a key challenge is convincing more employers to consider individuals with recovery backgrounds. “Everybody’s human and everybody makes mistakes. It’s just not everybody has a mistake go on their record,” he added.

The program plans to expand its reach by providing mobile manufacturing training to people in a local jail, aiming to offer second chances and bolster the manufacturing workforce.

Source: WOSU — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

Barnaamijka Ohio oo Dadka Soo Kabanaya u Tababaraya Shaqooyinka Warshadaha

Warshadaha wax soo saarka ee gobolka Ohio ayaa ka mid ah kuwa ugu waaweyn dalka Mareykanka, laakiin waxay la kulmayaan yaraanta shaqaale. Ururka Warshadlayaasha Ohio (Ohio Manufacturers’ Association) ayaa ku qiyaasay in loo baahan yahay 35,000 oo shaqaale cusub sannad kasta si loo daboolo baahida sii kordheysa iyo in lagu beddelo kuwa hawlgabka noqonaya. Sannadkii 2024, wax soo saarka guud ee waaxdan ee Ohio wuxuu gaaray in ka badan $137.9 bilyan.

Si wax looga qabto baahidan degdegga ah, Isbahaysiga Warshadlayaasha Appalachian Ohio (Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers’ Coalition) ayaa sanad ka hor bilaabay barnaamijka ‘Made in Appalachia’. Barnaamijkan oo lagu maalgeliyay $3 milyan oo ka yimid dowladda gobolka, wuxuu ujeedkiisu yahay in lagu siiyo dadka ka qaybgalaya barnaamijyada soo kabashada caafimaadka dabeecadda xirfado wax soo saar oo muhiim ah.

Hunter Warsinsky, oo ah maamulaha barnaamijka shaqaalaha ee ‘Made in Appalachia’, ayaa hoosta ka xariiqay muhiimadda ay leedahay in la jabiyo fikradda xun ee laga qabo shaqooyinka wax soo saarka iyo in la siiyo fursado. Warsinsky wuxuu yiri, “Waxaan dooneynaa inaan dadka soo kabsanaya ka soo saarno dhinacyada oo aan siino fursad ay ku helaan shaqo mushahar ku filan qoyska, isla mar ahaantaana aan ka caawino goobta wax soo saarka ee deegaankayaga.”

Koonfur-bari Ohio waxaa si gaar ah u saameeyay dhibaatada maandooriyaha opioid, waxaana dadka soo kabsanaya ay inta badan la kulmaan caqabado dhanka shaqo helista ah. Barnaamijka ‘Made in Appalachia’ wuxuu doonayaa inuu buuxiyo farqigan isagoo bixinaya tababarro kala duwan, oo ay ka mid yihiin samaynta CV-ga, alxanka, isticmaalka leysarrada 6,000-watt ah, iyo daabacaadda 3D.

Sanadkii ugu horreeyay ee barnaamijka, wuxuu la xiriiray in ka badan 50 qof. Christian Noland, oo ah ka qaybgale barnaamijka ah oo 120 maalmood ka nadiif ah maandooriyaha, ayaa muujiyay xiisaha uu u qabo wax soo saarka, isagoo xusay, “Waa wax lagu farxo. Waxaan jecelahay inaan la shaqeeyo kombiyuutarada. Had iyo jeerna waxay raadinayaan shaqaale wax soo saar.”

Colt Morningstar, oo ah isuduwaha barnaamijka shaqaalaha ee ‘Made in Appalachia’, ayaa iftiimiyay caqabadaha dhabta ah ee ay la kulmaan ka qaybgalayaasha, sida gaadiidka ay ku tagaan tababarka ama daryeelka carruurta. Morningstar wuxuu yiri, “Runtii waa inaan kula kulannaa meesha ay joogaan,” isagoo carabka ku adkeeyay in fursad la’aanta, ee aanay ahayn rabitaan la’aan, ay inta badan hor istaagto shakhsiyaadkan.

Inkastoo hal ka qaybgale oo barnaamijka ah uu shaqo ka helay warshad maxalli ah ilaa hadda, Morningstar wuxuu aaminsan yahay in caqabadda ugu weyn ay tahay in la qanciyo loo-shaqeeyayaal badan inay tixgeliyaan shakhsiyaadka leh taariikh soo kabasho. Wuxuu intaa ku daray, “Qof kasta waa bini’aadam, qof kastaana wuu khaldamaa. Ma aha qof kasta oo qaladkiisu ku qoran yahay diiwaankiisa.”

Barnaamijku wuxuu qorsheynayaa inuu ballaariyo gaaristiisa isagoo bixinaya tababar wax soo saar oo mobile ah dadka ku jira xabsi maxalli ah, isagoo ujeedkiisu yahay inuu siiyo fursado labaad oo uu xoojiyo shaqaalaha wax soo saarka.

Xigasho: WOSU