BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC applauds a US Senate committee for its work in advancing a workforce education and training bill.

In a letter to Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), IPC president and CEO John Mitchell praised the pair for their bipartisan leadership on the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act.

“As a training and certification leader, one of IPC’s top priorities is to promote workforce development initiatives, educate and train workers to fill manufacturing jobs, and be innovative in finding ways to close the skills gap,” wrote Mitchell. “Our members, who employ two million individuals throughout the United States, are highly dependent on workers with technical skills with many jobs not requiring an advanced degree in STEM. We appreciate your leadership to address these workforce challenges.”

The electronics industry has been hit particularly hard by a shortage of skilled workers in the US, IPC says, with most companies indicating it is constraining growth and, in some cases, long-term viability.

“This piece of legislation is hugely important to our industry and the next generation of workers, as it will ensure students have access to critical technical programs that will advance their ability to develop in-demand skills that are essential to 21st century manufacturing,” said IPC’s senior director of Education Programs, Colette Buscemi.

To address the workforce shortage, IPC is investing in its education programs, including moving toward offering more traditional training and certification programs with IPC Edge online, as well as a job task analysis of the critical job roles in the electronics industry to map the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform job functions. In addition, IPC is partnering with academic institutions to develop apprenticeships, internships, and related opportunities that offer valuable skills in concert with academic programs. IPC is also working with schools and nonprofits on programs to get kids excited about STEM subjects and to get them familiar with the electronics industry. Finally, IPC is supporting activities and programs that seek to recruit veterans into the electronics manufacturing industry.

Register now for PCB WEST, the largest trade show for the printed circuit and electronics industry in the Silicon Valley! Coming Sept. 11-13 to the Santa Clara Convention Center.