National plan to certify skilled workers announced

House Small Business Committee Chairman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today joined national manufacturing leaders in announcing a new program to train and certify workers in the advanced skills demanded by today's U.S. manufacturers.

Manzullo, who chairs the House Manufacturing Caucus, joined National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO John Engler, Manufacturing Skill Standards Council CEO Leo Reddy, and other manufacturing leaders for today's announcement at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

"As our manufacturers continue to innovate, a gap has developed in the skills manufacturing employees possess and the skills manufacturers need to continue to move American industries forward in the global marketplace," Manzullo said. "This national certification program will train manufacturing employees in the advanced skills needed by today's modern manufacturers."

A full 80 percent of manufacturers surveyed are having trouble finding qualified and skilled production employees, according to a recent NAM study. NAM estimates that U.S. manufacturers will face a 10 million skilled-workers shortage by 2020 if current trends go unchecked.

Manzullo, who represents a heavy manufacturing district in northern Illinois, has been working with Leo Reddy and Rock Valley College PresidentDr. Jack Becherer to establish a similar certification program in Rockford, Illinois. Manzullo recently secured $200,000 in a House appropriations bill to help fund the local certification program.

"We have many great, high-paying manufacturing careers available to those who possess the necessary skills," Manzullo said. "Our job now is to train and certify employees in these skills so they can help American manufacturers continue to innovate and thrive."