BATON ROUGE — The manufacturing industry produces approximately $50 billion in gross state product, or about $1 of every $5 that turns over each year in the state’s economy, according to numbers from Louisiana Economic Development.
In recognition of more than 2,800 manufacturing companies and their employees who contribute to that output, Gov. John Bel Edwards proclaimed Sept. 27 through Oct. 3 as Manufacturing Week in Louisiana. The week culminates with National Manufacturing Day on Friday.
“With more than 129,000 Louisianans employed in the industry, manufacturing provides exciting career opportunities for people interested in making the dynamic products we use every day,” said Edwards. “More than ever, our schools from the early grades to higher education are generating greater student interest in science, technology, engineering, math, finance and other disciplines that can prepare them for rewarding careers in manufacturing. We encourage all of our state, regional and local workforce partners to join us in highlighting the importance of manufacturing to our economy and everyday life in Louisiana.”
View the Governor’s video proclaiming Manufacturing Week in Louisiana.
To celebrate manufacturing this week, LED FastStart has joined with the Creators Wanted initiative of the National Association of Manufacturing and the Manufacturing Institute. Manufacturers are expected to fill 4.6 million jobs in the U.S. by 2028. By 2025, the Creators Wanted initiative seeks to boost the number of students enrolled in technical and vocational schools or reskilling programs by 25 percent, while substantially increasing the positive perception of manufacturing among parents and their children.
To facilitate workforce growth in manufacturing, LED FastStart has developed the Certification for Manufacturing program, or C4M, for companies across the state that have significant need for workers with entry-level manufacturing skills. The C4M program is currently being taught in Louisiana high schools and community and technical colleges.
“Louisiana Economic Development is proud to celebrate our manufacturers across the state as we commemorate Manufacturing Week in Louisiana,” said LED Secretary Don Pierson. “The manufacturing sector is vital to our state’s economy. Manufacturing offers rewarding job opportunities to the next generation of Louisiana students seeking the best jobs of tomorrow. We champion the many training and reskilling programs in our Louisiana Community and Technical College System campuses across the state, where adults also can acquire new skills to qualify for careers in manufacturing.”
As part of Manufacturing Week in Louisiana, LED FastStart and regional and local workforce leaders are teaming up to conduct the “Dream It. Do It. Louisiana” 2020 campaign that encourages students and young adults to consider careers in manufacturing.
For more information about manufacturing opportunities in Louisiana, visit DreamItDoItLA.com. To learn more about the national campaign, visit CreatorsWanted.org.
