Manufacturing Careers

When the economy collapsed in 2008, car manufacturers were one of the biggest industries to feel the pinch. Four years later, the industry is slowly but surely rebounding, but without a skilled workforce, it needs to rebuild properly. According to many recent reports, the solution to the worker shortage appears to be community colleges; more specifically, in community colleges across the country that are partnering with major auto manufacturers to make sure the skilled workers are ready and able to take the jobs that are currently open and waiting for them.

Major Companies Partner with Schools

Higher education occasionally makes strange bedfellows, with the latest auto manufacturing collaboration coming from some unlikely allies. The Huffington Post reports that Ford, GM, and Toyota are teaming up with other manufacturers to create a training curriculum that will meet the needs of the entire industry. The curriculum will specifically be geared toward community colleges, particularly those in Michigan – the auto manufacturing capital of the country that could use an economic boost since the recent recession.

These new auto training programs will be broad enough to encompass the various manufacturers' products, while specific enough to bring students right from the classroom to the assembly line. Studies will focus on helping students compete globally, using skills that will easily translate from one manufacturer to another. The joint effort between the automakers ensures that every piece of the curriculum will be relevant to the entire auto industry in the

Despite the high unemployment rate and sluggish economy plaguing much of the country, there are numerous industries that can’t find enough skilled workers to staff their offices. To address both of these issues, community colleges nationwide are developing training programs in fields facing staffing shortages, putting displaced workers back on the job, and filling company needs. One focus to this end is on the manufacturing industry, a field that promises long-term economic growth and job stability. Community colleges are answering the manufacturing call, with new programs cropping up at campuses coast to coast.

Manufacturing Program Expanding at Asnuntuck

Already boasting a successful manufacturing training program, Asnuntuck Community College is preparing to expand to allow even more students the opportunity to move into this lucrative field. According to the Windsor Locks Patch, the Connecticut state legislature recently passed a comprehensive jobs bill that allotted $2.2 million to the school for the purpose of growing its precision manufacturing program. The hope is that the expansion of the program will encourage long-term economic growth in the area by boosting small business opportunities.

“Small business continues to be the engine that drives our economy,” State Representative Kathleen Tallarita (D-Enfield) told the Patch. “Investing in the future of Connecticut’s small businesses is essential to our continued economic growth.”

The funding will increase the manufacturing program's student body from 200 to 350 full-time students. It will also increase the number of incumbent workers from 325 to 450. The money will allow the

As our country looks to more green energy solutions, biodiesel production has come to the forefront of higher education today. Community colleges are hopping onboard the biodiesel bandwagon, offering a variety of programs to teach students how to create, test and market biodiesel fuel to a wide range of industries today.

If you are looking for a green career that will offer stable work opportunities and help the environment at the same time, perhaps a career in biodiesel technology is for you.

What is a Biodiesel Fuel Specialist?

According to Green Careers Guide, a biodiesel fuel specialist is involved with the conversion of renewable oilseed crops into fuel that can be used to power engines and machinery. The creation of biodiesels creates a cleaner environment and will alleviate our dependency on foreign oil in the future. Biodiesel technicians work in a variety of settings, but often spend much of their time in a laboratory.

To become a biodiesel fuel specialist, it is good to have the following qualities or skills:

• An aptitude for mathematics and science
• Excellent communication skills
• The ability to work as a member of the team
• Meticulous record-keeping skills

Green Careers Guide estimates that the outlook for biodiesel careers is good, with an average hourly rate of around $15-$20.

Where to Find Training

Biodiesel training programs are cropping up around the country, and we have a few examples to get you started in your research:

Anoka-Ramsey Community College

This Minnesota school recently received

Welding continues to provide steady career opportunities, which range from creative endeavors to logistical practices. For many community colleges, studying welding can open lucrative doors for lifelong employment. According to Syndicate Pay Scale Data, professional welders begin their careers with an average starting salary ranging from $54,000 to $71,000 per year. Best of all, the annual pay increases exponentially with years of experience, which means technical welders with 20 or more years of experience can earn an average of $100,000 annually.

Welding commonly involves using heat and technology to join various metal parts; building on this core focus, some aspects of a welding career can include the use of equipment to create welds and the inspection of welds to ensure specifications and standards are met. Additional tasks may involve reading blueprints, drawings, or other visual or written instruction forms.

Through diverse training and degree options at community colleges across the country, students can begin to prepare for their career through an Associate of Applied Science of Welding degree or a Welding Technology Certification.

The Employment Prospects for Technical Welders

Professional welders most commonly work in the manufacturing industries. Often hired to create industrial machinery, transportation vehicles, and other forms of fabricated products and pieces of equipment, trained and licensed welders can take advantage of a wide variety of employment venues.

In fact, adding to the manufacturing options, many welders also work

Although the American auto industry has been struggling recently, many experts believe that the auto industry will soon be hiring highly skilled workers to build energy-efficient vehicles. If you are passionate about automobiles, check out your local community college’s auto program. With careers in repair, engineering, design, and various other options, an auto-based education can help students race toward a potentially lucrative future!

Auto Programs and Opportunities

With diverse opportunities in the automotive industry, students can investigate new and traditional career options. For example, Shoreline Community College (SCC), located in Shoreline, Washington, is one of the many community colleges offering students exciting course opportunities. Students can enroll in Automotive Service, Automotive Programs, Automotive Career Training, Technical Education Networks, and General Service venues.

Best of all, each focus area is endorsed by a leading automotive company. For example, students enrolled in the Automotive Service Education Program can earn their degree with the support of General Motors. To provide students with both knowledge and experience, students enrolled in this pathway spend alternating quarters in the classroom and the workforce by participating in internships at a sponsoring General Motors dealership. Similarly, Chrysler also provides students with a cooperating internship opportunity, as students enrolled in the Chrysler College Automotive Program can also work at a Chrysler dealership while alternately attending classes. Both Honda and Toyota also provide students with cooperating work and educational options.

In addition, for students looking to graduate early, SCC offers three-quarter programs,