Robin Kelly
Congresswoman Robin Kelly hosted an Apprenticeship Roundtable aimed at better promoting training and internship opportunities for in-demand jobs in manufacturing and the trades.
The roundtable brought together manufacturers, colleges and workforce development experts to create ways to increase enrollment in training programs, align programs to meet employer needs and tailor programs to non-traditional students, including those retraining for new careers. The meeting was held at the Matteson Public Library.
“We need to do more to inform students at a younger age about high-paying vocational opportunities that do not require a four-year degree,” Kelly said. “Employers have often told me they’re finding it difficult to fill vocational and manufacturing positions because people are not taking advantage of local training programs. We discussed ways we could collaborate to ensure future workers are being trained to fill lucrative job openings in manufacturing the trades.”
Participants included representatives from BASF chemicals manufacturing corporation in Kankakee; Land O’Frost in Lansing; Prairie State College; South Suburban College; the Kankakee Economic Alliance, and Joliet Job Corps
Congresswoman Kelly previously hosted a Manufacturer’s Roundtable where manufacturers and job training organizations discussed ways to train future workers in tomorrow’s tech- nologies.