FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2021
For more information please contact:
Zenagui Brahim
President
zenaguib@nhmep.org
MEP National Network and Women in Manufacturing Partner to Recruit and Retain More Women in Manufacturing Careers
Cleveland, Ohio
– The MEP National Network™ and Women in Manufacturing are pleased to announce that they have entered into a strategic partnership to actively recruit and retain more women in lucrative, rewarding manufacturing careers. With over two million new U.S. manufacturing workers needed, the whole manufacturing industry stands to gain from this collaboration.
According to a 2021 study published by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, as many as 2.1 million manufacturing jobs will be unfilled through 2030. The worker shortage will hurt revenue, production and could ultimately cost the U.S. economy up to $1 trillion by 2030. Currently, according to BLS data, the U.S. manufacturing workforce consists of just 29% women, versus 46% of the national workforce. Manufacturers will benefit from recruiting and retaining more women workers through: more diverse perspectives in decision making, more creative approaches to problem-solving, and a wider talent pool for professional and managerial talent (52% of bachelor’s degree recipients are women). Recruiting this untapped talent pool requires new types of training and addressing systemic barriers.
In addition to raising awareness about the need to intentionally reach out to attract more women to manufacturing careers, this partnership will add to the resources available to MEP National Network staff. The Network’s nearly 2,000 employees will have access to WiM’s monthly virtual learning series, along with the virtual learning library of 35 archived sessions. WiM also has a job board, virtual career fairs, a Moms in Manufacturing networking group, and an HR roundtable where MEP Center staff can participate, learn, and connect. WiM has 30 chapters nationwide holding 211 events annually, with over 4,000 unique registrants, and local MEP Centers will now have the opportunity to host joint events, job fairs, leadership programs, and to assist WiM member companies through technical assistance and consulting.
“We are excited to leverage the strengths of both the MEP National Network and Women in Manufacturing to address this critical issue,” said Matthew Fieldman, Executive Director of America Works, a national initiative to strengthen workforce programs throughout the MEP National Network. “Through new and innovative partnerships, we can create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive American manufacturing workforce.”
Through this partnership, the MEP National Network and Women in Manufacturing will be better positioned to provide resources and technical assistance to help manufacturers recruit and retain women in manufacturing careers.
About the MEP National Network:
The MEP National Network is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing. Focused on helping small and medium-sized manufacturers generate business results and thrive in today’s technology-driven economy, the MEP National Network comprises the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), the 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and over 1,400 trusted advisors and experts at more than 385 MEP service locations, providing any U.S. manufacturer with access to resources they need to succeed. In 2020, the MEP National Network connected with 27,574 manufacturers, leading to $13.0 billion in sales, $2.7 billion in cost savings, $4.9 billion in new client investments, and helping to create and retain 105,748 U.S. manufacturing jobs.
About Women in Manufacturing:
Women in Manufacturing (WiM) is the only national trade association dedicated to providing year-round support to women who have chosen a career in the manufacturing industry. At present, more than 7,500 individual members representing nearly 1,500 manufacturing companies have joined our growing ranks of industry professionals. WiM encompasses manufacturers of all types and welcomes individuals from every job function – from production to the C-Suite. Membership is available to women and men working within the manufacturing sector. WiM partners with a wide variety of manufacturing-related organizations, from JFF on apprenticeships to various trade associations, Women in Toys, Women in Nuclear, and the Society of Women Engineers.
About NH MEP
The NH MEP is an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the U.S. Department of Commerce. The national MEP system is a network of manufacturing extension centers that provide business and technical assistance to smaller manufacturers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Through MEP, manufacturers have access to more than 2,000 manufacturing and business “coaches” whose job is to help firms make changes that lead to greater productivity, increased profits and enhanced global competitiveness. For more information please visit www.nhmep.org or call 603-226-3200.
Original press release dated 7/30/2021 from www.nist.gov