DOL Partners with Industry Leaders to Advance Manufacturing in NJ

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) launched a new partnership with the state’s advanced manufacturers this week, holding kickoff events in North, South, and Central Jersey.

The last of the three events was held today at Brand Aromatics in Lakewood. NJDOL’s Manufacturing Industry Partnerships are designed to help manufacturers thrive in the Garden State, support Gov. Murphy’s vision of a stronger, fairer economy and are an important step in implementing his talent-based economic development plan, Jobs NJ.

Industry Partnerships position businesses to work with public partners, such as local colleges and universities, to resolve the most pressing workforce, economic and education challenges in their industry.

“We know that meeting the needs of business can’t solely be about training – it requires a comprehensive approach,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “We want everyone to not only have a seat at the table, but be actively engaged with each other, learning and developing our state’s workforce through all the connections and resources available.”

The goal of the Industry Partnerships model is to work collaboratively with business to identify their workforce needs, including education level and specialized training, then buttress the sector by investing in strategies to make it successful, which could include raising career awareness with millennials and high school students, identifying public partners, or identifying opportunities for collaboration or resource sharing. Because these partnerships are region-based, kickoffs also were held at Eastern Millworks, Inc. in Jersey City last Friday, and Radwell International in Willingboro on Tuesday.

“Industry Partnerships brought leaders in manufacturing together to discuss our biggest challenges, with the direct support of government and education in the room,” said John Radwell, Vice-President of Customer Satisfaction at Radwell. “One of the most discussed issues is improving our talent pipeline, and this forum helped us agree to bring more students and teachers into our facilities, fostering internships, co-ops, and more hands-on opportunities.”

NJ Economic Development Authority CEO Tim Sullivan added: “Advanced Manufacturing is one of the high-growth sectors identified in Governor Murphy’s plan for a stronger and fairer economy, and supporting this industry is key to creating good jobs for New Jersey residents. The input we have received from conversations with industry leaders will facilitate the development of initiatives that address the challenges the industry faces. We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Commissioner Asaro-Angelo and his team.”

Industry Partnerships for New Jersey’s other key industries will include Finance; Retail Trade; Life Sciences; Health Care; Technology; Construction and Energy; Leisure and Hospitality; and Transportation, Distribution and Logistics.

Read the full article here.