CEA Annual Conference & Training Event

Policy & Trends

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Held Hearing on Teacher Shortage

Mismatch Between Future Workers and the Supply of Postsecondary Awards

Noncredit Workforce Training, Industry Credentials and Labor Market Outcomes

Job Satisfaction Remains High for Supply Chain Pros

Colorado Legislation Links CTE and Apprenticeship Systems

Developing State Governance Models for Youth Apprenticeship: Decisions and Examples for Policy Leaders

Career and Technical Education Clears New Pathways to Opportunity

Department of Labor Publishes Resources on WIOA Program Collaboration

About MSSC

The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) ®, an industry-led 501(c)3 non-profit, is America's leader in training and certifying foundational technical competencies for front-line technicians for in-demand, higher wage, higher skill jobs in advanced manufacturing and supply chain logistics.

Technicians with MSSC Certifications are qualified for 11.3 million jobs in front-line production, material handling, and distribution. 84% of executives surveyed agree there is a talent shortage in U.S. manufacturing. MSSC is helping industry close that gap as they prepare to manufacture the future!

Learn More!

MSSC News

Community News

CEA Annual Conference & Training Event

Attending the annual Correctional Education Association event in Columbus later this month? Stop by our sponsor table! MSSC is extremely proud of the dozens of state and federal programs that use MSSC's online and offline training/testing materials. In addition to offering hardcopy versions of the CLA and CLT 4.0 textbooks, due to restrictions on inmate access to the internet, MSSC has made accommodations to allow prisons to access the CPT Amatrol material offline. This program gives inmates the chance to utilize state of the art, interactive curriculum based on MSSC standards. You can reach out to Info@msscusa.org for more information!

Policy & Trends

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Held Hearing on Teacher Shortage

The Senate HELP Committee held a hearing titled “The Immediate and Long-Term Challenges Facing Public School Teachers: Low Pay, Teacher Shortages, and Underfunded Public Schools.” Although the CTE teacher workforce was not explicitly discussed, witnesses did address CTE and apprenticeships as ways to strengthen student opportunities and pathways. More here.

Mismatch Between Future Workers and the Supply of Postsecondary Awards A report by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce highlights a significant misalignment between the supply of credentials and labor market demand at the sub-baccalaureate level. The U.S. economy is expected to create an average of 18.5 million job openings annually through 2031, with 31% requiring an associate degree, certificate, or some postsecondary credit but no degree. The report identifies substantial misalignment between current supply and projected demand for these credentials across various local labor markets. Read the full report.

Noncredit Workforce Training, Industry Credentials and Labor Market Outcomes

The Annenberg Institute at Brown University released a research paper examining the labor market returns of industry-recognized credentials linked to community college noncredit programs. The analysis, based on data from around 24,000 working-age adults in Virginia's FastForward noncredit workforce training programs, found that earning industry-recognized credentials increased quarterly earnings by $1,000 on average and raised the likelihood of gaining employment by 2.4%. Read the full paper.

Job Satisfaction Remains High for Supply Chain Pros

Despite challenges such as increased costs and stagnant wages, a majority of workers in the supply chain industry report high job satisfaction. According to the Supply Chain Xchange Annual Salary Survey, 91% would recommend the industry to young professionals, and 88% are satisfied with their jobs, with an average salary of $135,719. Read more.

Colorado Legislation Links CTE and Apprenticeship Systems

Colorado's state legislature has passed bills to integrate workforce and education systems and expand pathways from K-12 through postsecondary education into the workforce. The legislation mandates the Colorado Department of Higher Education (DHE) to develop frameworks for evaluating non-degree credentials and identifying equivalencies with other state-offered credentials, including apprenticeships.

Developing State Governance Models for Youth Apprenticeship: Decisions and Examples for Policy Leaders

New America has issued a report urging states to establish clear visions for youth apprenticeship, set measurable goals, identify key stakeholders, strategize integration into existing education and workforce systems, and align funding to support program creation or growth. The report highlights the importance of designing governance structures aligned with state visions and goals for youth apprenticeship. Read the report.

Career and Technical Education Clears New Pathways to Opportunity

Bruno Manno of the Progressive Policy Institute discusses the increasing demand for career and technical education among Generation Z, signaling a shift from an exclusive focus on college prep in K-12 education. Manno advocates for "opportunity pluralism," emphasizing diverse pathways to post-secondary success. Read the full story.

Department of Labor Publishes Resources on WIOA Program Collaboration

The Department of Labor has published resources to facilitate collaboration and co-enrollment across Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Core Programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and other workforce system partners. Access the resources.

Upcoming Events

2024 Annual NCTA Conference Hosted by the National College Testing Association August 4 - 7, 2024 Savannah, GA

National Youth Apprenticeship Summit Hosted by CareerWise and Partnership for Advancing Youth Apprenticeships (PAYA) September 17-19, 2024 Indianapolis, IN

Postsecondary CTE Summit Hosted by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) September 18-20, 2024 Chicago, Illinois

The Best Practices and Innovations in CTE Conference Co-hosted by ACTE and the National Council of Local Administrators October 9-11, 2024 Hilton Portland Downtown, Portland, OR

ACTE CareerTech Vision Hosted by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) December 4-7, 2024 San Antonio, TX

Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) | 703-739-9000 | info@msscusa.org

Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) Website