Community colleges are beginning to offer more manufacturing programs across the state.
“We’ve worked very heavily over the last few years to create resources to go to our community colleges to help develop programs there that resonate with the end user, which is the manufacturer, so that an individual can go there, can get trained and there are jobs available,” said Jay Moon, CEO of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association.
Moon says they are working with kids in High school and even in grade school.
“We are working with our community colleges so that there can be dual enrollment,” said Moon. “While they are in high school, they can also take some community college classes so that then they are already well on their way to getting a credential or a certification or whatever it might be so that they can work in some of these great jobs. ”
However, Moon says the training doesn’t end in college.
“We want to help employers who do continuous training,” said Moon. “Because things change, their equipment changes, their techniques change, all of those things change and so we are in a continuous learning environment and we need to recognize that if we are going to stay competitive in the state.”
