Every year across the country community colleges and high schools host events to recognize National Manufacturing Day. This day highlights the US manufacturing industry and exposes students to the career pathways available in this industry.

The skills that Auto Body Collision and Repair students learn, including welding and painting metal, are skills that can be transferred to a career in manufacturing. “Several of our Auto Body students have moved on to working for large manufacturing companies in the area,” says Employment Specialist Tom Reed. “We’ve had a number go to Commercial Airplane Painting Services over at the airport and a few at Gunderson, a rail car manufacturing company.”

“While many of the manufacturing jobs in the United States have moved overseas, there are still hundreds of thousands of jobs in the States,” Business & Community Liaison Anna Snyder explains. “In the greater Portland metro area, there are approximately 10,000 jobs that need to be filled or will need to be filled in the next ten to fifteen years. There are more and more people retiring and not enough trained workers to backfill those open slots. We hope that by exposing our students to those opportunities, we can fill two needs.”

Students were able to play with CAD, try welding equipment, and practice other manufacturing skills. They seemed to enjoy the chance to try new things in a hands-on way. “It was fun,” said Repair student Stephen Spurgeon. “I know I can look at manufacturing as a place to get a job when I’m done with training.”

National Manufacturing Day takes place the first Friday in October. Events are hosted across the country at a variety of locations. To learn more about Manufacturing Day, visit www.mfgday.com.