Great minds — about 150 of them — came together Thursday to talk about the state of manufacturing in New Hampshire these days.
The good news is that our top industry is flourishing. But it is challenged by a gap in the number of skilled workers there are to take advanced manufacturing jobs and that’s why educators and manufacturers met at Nashua Community College today to talk about ways to fill the gap and keep the industry strong.
The featured speaker was Bill Symonds, director of Harvard University’s Pathways to Prosperity program.
The biggest message he delivered: Manufacturing is not your grandfather’s factory anymore.
The pay is above average. The jobs are demanding. The industry is far from dead.
What needs to happen is to get around the image there is about manufacturing days of old. To direct students of a mind not necessarily for academics to these jobs — New Hampshire has some world-class companies that make parts and components used around the world and even the universe.
There were some great conversations and ideas. Lots of business cards were exchanged. People on both sides left charged up and ready to meet the challenge.
Tags: New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, New Hampshire manufacturing, NH Department of Resources and Economic Development, Pathways to Prosperity