NAM Statement on Third Meeting of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board
Washington, D.C. – National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement on the third meeting of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board:
Today the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board released our initial recommendations, demonstrating that the board has already made significant progress. Manufacturers are proud to be a part of this effort as we build the workforce of tomorrow for our industry and across the American economy. With 4.6 million jobs to fill over the next decade, manufacturers in America are facing a workforce crisis—but it also presents us an opportunity to bring more people into high-paying careers if we connect them with the right training. Government, educators, community leaders and businesses all have a role to play and an obligation to help lead. That is why the NAM and The Manufacturing Institute this year launched Creators Wanted, an unprecedented campaign to inspire the next generation of manufacturing workers.
Background
The American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, chaired by Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, was established by the Department of Commerce pursuant to Executive Order 13845, Establishing the President’s National Council for the American Worker. The Board provides advice and recommendations on ways to encourage the private sector and educational institutions to combat the skills crisis by investing in and increasing demand-driven education, training and re-training, including training through apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities.
Timmons was nominated to serve on the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board in September 2018 by Carolyn Lee, executive director of The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce and education partner of the NAM. Timmons also serves as chairman of the board of the Institute. According to a landmark 2018 study conducted by the Institute and Deloitte, the manufacturing industry will need to fill 4.6 million jobs over the next decade, 2.4 million of which are expected to go unfilled. In July, on behalf of manufacturers at the one-year anniversary of the Pledge to America’s Workers, Timmons pledged 1.186 million new training and upskilling opportunities for manufacturing workers.
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The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12.8 million men and women, contributes $2.38 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic multiplier of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.