given in today's knowledge- and information-based economy is that global competitive forces will require the holders of many jobs — especially advanced manufacturing ones — to elevate their workplace skills regularly.  Thus, this issue of Grow Michiana eNews covers several workforce skill-building tools employed by manufacturers. 

"The manufacturing workforce is constantly changing," David Huether, chief economist of the National Association of Manufacturers, said recently, "[and] the skills you had 10 years ago are not the skills you need today.  You need retraining constantly."  During the Northern Indiana Workforce Board's Fifth Annual Economic Forecasting Summit in March, he added, "International competition, especially in the manufacturing sector, has doubled at least in the last 20 years.  More than any other sector, manufacturers compete in a global market.  And that's why we need very high skills and the demand for very high skills in math and science is very important." To learn about the workforce-strengthening tools, go to the stories in Grow Michiana eNews.

Federal-Industry Task Force Develops Core-Skills Training Model
for Workers in Advanced Manufacturing
Framework Highlights Widely Demanded Skills To Work with
Databases, CAD Drawings, and Spreadsheets
Go to Article.

Manufacturers near Seattle Seek High-Quality Workforce through
Advanced Manufacturing Center
Business Executives Sense the Pursuit of Innovation Mandates
Better Trained Workers and Interest from Young People
Go to Story.