Manufacturing

WDI takes a holistic approach to support High-Road Employment in manufacturing. It does not start and end on the factory floor. The sector relies on infrastructure, including energy production and transmission, water systems, roads, highways, bridges, rail, and ports. Construction jobs exist on site from site preparation through retooling and retrofitting. Bringing products to consumers requires trained drivers and operators at every step from the warehouse to the end user. Ensuring a trained workforce in each of these roles is key to the success of the sector.

New York’s manufacturing ingenuity includes semiconductors, aerospace, defense, biotech, battery storage, transportation, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and beyond. The workforce is primed for further growth as businesses reshore operations and public and private partnerships make significant investments. As major developments make headlines, small and medium manufacturers need to prepare for roles in the supply chain to keep products made by New Yorkers.

We support training for the current and future workforce that ranges from foundational skills to increase access for those entering manufacturing jobs for the first time to specialized technical and software skills to advance careers of experienced individuals.

• Pre-Employment Training – working with community-based organizations and training providers on programs to provide awareness of manufacturing careers and introductory skills based on the needs of employers. This includes training in basic skills of industry, English language skills, and fundamentals of digital technology.
   
• Incumbent Worker Training – working with individual employers, we support training for existing employees and new hires in technical skills, worker safety, and the development of internal training, including apprenticeships. This includes equipment maintenance, welding, CNC machining, design and production software, project management, and CDL.