Miller’s Ale House opens; hires 93 employees

CAN DO’s business financing helps companies grow, create jobs in NEPA

Penn State Wilkes-Barre has been serving the needs of our workforce since 1916 when the Penn State Department of Engineering Extension was established in Wilkes-Barre in order to train engineers and improve mining methods and worker safety.During and after World War II, the Pennsylvania State College Wilkes-Barre Technical School Center offered credit level courses and trained workers already in war production to take over more highly skilled jobs. Much of the success of Penn State can be attributed to the flexibility of its offerings, and adding and removing programs as demand directed.According to the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development (2018), Luzerne and Lackawanna counties have a forecasted job demand in the local manufacturing workforce that exceeds 16,500 skilled workers.With all of this opportunity for growth locally, manufacturing companies face a major hurdle when hiring employees who have the necessary skills to perform. Looming retirement of Baby Boomers, and a skill gap for jobs using advanced technologies add to this problem.Per industry experts, the skills and talent crisis is here to stay, and workforce concerns are the number one issue voiced by virtually every employer in a recent survey conducted by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce.As the economy has rebounded since the 2008 financial crisis, the need for trained workers is outstripping supply, creating a daunting personnel shortage &#8212; with no quick fix available.By locating in NEPA, companies avoid urban America&#8217;s high costs for utilities and labor, as well as infrastructure congestion, and despite our frequent complaints about road conditions, highway access to local distribution centers is among the best in the nation.Fortunately, calendar year 2018 witnessed significant investment in the overall NEPA industrial system by local organizations and educators.Penn State Wilkes-Barre continues to respond to the needs of our local manufacturing workforce by offering multiple Supply Chain and Project Management courses. Penn State Wilkes-Barre&#8217;s Continuing Education office can help your company invest in learning and development to grow our local industry&#8217;s ability to achieve success in the digital age.Your employees are your most important asset. We take pride in being your corporate training partner by providing customized programs to meet the educational needs of our local workforce.Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing EducationLehman, PA 18627570-675-9253 wbce@outreach.psu.edu wilkesbarre.psu.edu/ce/working-professionals/manufacturing-logistics

Penn State W-B offers training for manufacturing and logistics industry