MADISON – Gov. Tony Evers proclaimed October as Manufacturing Month, and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) will be promoting the state’s top industry throughout the month. In addition to making a number of stops throughout the state on its Manufacturing Tour – sponsored by M3 Insurance – WMC is releasing a series of videos promoting the industry.
Manufacturing is the number one contributor to Wisconsin’s economy, producing $63 billion in total output in 2018 – 19 percent of Wisconsin’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Additionally, the state’s more than 9,000 manufacturers employed 475,000 people in 2018.
The second video released in the series highlights the training opportunities available through Wisconsin’s technical colleges and features a number of students currently preparing for a career in manufacturing.
“One of my biggest factors while choosing my post high school education program was affordability,” said Elyssa Anderson, an automated systems technology student at Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC). “Looking at WCTC, the potential salary outcome makes the investment a really strong investment. It is a great return.”
While many young people are now seeing manufacturing as a rewarding career option, more can be done to promote the industry.
“We cannot start early enough in promoting the great career opportunities that are available in manufacturing and STEM,” said Mike Shiels, Dean of Applied Technologies at WCTC, in the video.
The Wisconsin Technical College System works closely with manufacturers throughout the state to ensure they are preparing a ready workforce for the careers available in manufacturing now and in the future.
“They’re gaining hands-on experience on the equipment they are going to be using once they get into industry,” added Shiels. “It is all real-world opportunities and experiences they are learning.”
The first video released by WMC focused on women in manufacturing, and is available by clicking here. To find out more about Manufacturing Month, visit www.wimanufacturingmonth.org.
