HomeElectionsCONGRESSMAN HARDY & CHEERS STAR JOHN RATZENBERGER CALL FOR EXPANDING VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN SCHOOLS TO FILL 2.4 MILLION MANUFACTURING JOBS Elections, Politics May 13, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Advocates for American manufacturing, including Hollywood star John Ratzenberger, testified before Congress today about the critical place that manufacturing plays in America’s economy. Congressman Cresent Hardy (NV-4) released the following statement in response to their testimony and the need to prepare America’s workforce for these jobs: “Over the next ten years, two million American manufacturing jobs are at risk of going unfilled because of a skills-gap within our workforce. We need to make sure our education system provides sufficient exposure to skilled trades so that we don’t send these high-paying jobs overseas,” said Congressman Hardy. “Hands-on technical skills helped me build a company with 350 jobs in Nevada. The rising generation deserves similar opportunities.” FACTS: An average manufacturing worker in the U.S. earned $79,553 in 2014 – 20 percent higher than what an average worker earned in other industries.1 The average manufacturing business employs less than 50 people,2 and according to the latest data from the US Census Bureau, there are approximately 256,000 manufacturing firms in the US.3 For every $1 of manufacturing output in a community, there is at least another $1.40 of wealth created.4 An estimated 2.7 million jobs are likely to be needed as a result of retirements of the existing workforce, while 700,000 jobs are likely to be created due to natural business growth.5 Nevada currently has several vocational high schools, both public and charter schools, operating very successfully. Vocational high schools have a 95% graduation rate which far exceeds the Clark County general education public school average of just over 62% (2014 rate). Rob Lauer NEWSMAXTV LAS VEGAS POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR Please email your comments to: [email protected]
