The importance of manufacturing to the state and local economies and the wealth of manufacturing careers available in Nebraska – that was the lesson for hundreds of Omaha-area high school students on Manufacturing Day. National Manufacturing Day is an annual event that encourages manufacturers “to open their doors and show, in a coordinated effort, what manufacturing is and what it isn’t” – and raise awareness about a pervasive manufacturing skills gap (more open jobs than skilled workers to fill them).
The Greater Omaha Chamber, the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership and the Partnership’s Manufacturing Council helped coordinate student engagements throughout the region.
At present, manufacturing companies employ nearly 10 percent of Nebraska’s workforce, including more than 36,000 workers in Greater Omaha, with Food Manufacturing representing the largest portion (13,885). Manufacturing businesses alone generated $4.5 billion of gross regional product for Greater Omaha in 2014 (approx. 7.7 percent of total regional gross domestic product). In the next 10 years, economists estimate the highest growing manufacturing sectors in Greater Omaha by employment will be Food Manufacturing at 13 percent (U.S.A is projected at 0.6 percent), Electrical Equipment at 10.7 percent (U.S.A. at 1.2 percent) and Nonmetallic mineral product at 81 percent (U.S.A at 0.7 percent). The positive projection underscores the need to invest in the development of a talent pipeline to meet the needs of these thriving sectors. (Sources: Chmura Economics JobsEQ, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis).