Labor Day 2016 - A Different Perspective



             Climbing all the way up to ring the bell
             Maxi, my Grandson, in the climbing wall at Rock City, 2016                                             photo andreas


blue-col·lar
adjective 
.... of or relating to manual work or workers, particularly in industry.
"their speech and attitudes mark them as blue-collar guys"      Definition by Google

New Career opportunities
'Joseph Poole will make more than $100,000 in wages and
overtime by the end of the year.
By 2017, an estimated 2.5 million new, middle-skill jobs like Poole's
are expected to be added to the workforce,
accounting for nearly 40% of all job growth,
according to a USA TODAY analysis ....'                                by USA Today




Dear Reader, 

Here is a slightly different perspective on Labor Day 2016:
      • 75% of manufacturing companies cannot find (enough of) the skilled workers they need.
      • 25% of the highly skilled (key) people in manufacturing jobs will retire in the next 5 years.
August 8, 2016
In Whitfield County, GA,over 500 High School kids started a brand new program,
called 
Advanced Manufacturing and Business Academy (link to AMBA)
.

AMBA Idea
This program was developped by a work group of people from our industry, our school system,
our Chamber, and our Career Academy.
The work group was facing the following realities:
      • our local Flooring Industry just can't get enough skilled workers in manufacturing
      • not every kid's career is/should be based on a college degree
      • we can use our existing infrastructure, existing programs
        learn from success stories instead of re-inventing the wheel
AMBA Goal
The goal of the work group was to implement within months a 'solution'
which will work for the companies and will create new career opportunities for our youth.

AMBA New Career Opportunities
In the photo above, my Grandson is focusing on reaching the bell on the top of the climbing wall,
so do the 500 kids focus on their new career possibilities.
They can choose three AMBA pathways; they go to their High School and to the Career Academy.
Before they become a Junior, the students can apply for an apprenticeship job in a company.
If accepted they
      • become a payed employee as an apprentice
      • work about 20 hours per week at their paid job
      • can dual-enroll with the Technical College and Dalton State College
      • graduate from High School as skilled workers
      • can earn (tuition free) college credits
With this education and on-the-job training the graduates will have
a huge chance getting a job within the company they have been working or
they can go on to college.
What ever they choose, their AMBA will have been the starting point for their careers.

Labor Day - Blue Collar Day?
Made in the U.S. is absolutely essential for the health of our economy.
So are we, the skilled workers, for manufacturing in the U.S.

Enjoy a long and relaxing Labor Day weekend,

Andreas Bruhwiler
President and Owner
Alrol of America, Inc.