Manufacturing group cites success of soft-skills job training program

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While technical skills are important, soft skills are essential to gaining meaningful employment.

One local manufacturing group is finding out from its members that many graduates are lacking in those abilities.

To help solve that workforce need, the Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers & Employers Council continues to promote its YES (Your Employability Skills) certificate program. As it announced its 2018-19 results, the council said it has seen considerable success in placing graduates in high-paying jobs.

The council administrates the program for the Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers & Employers Association, a private, non-profit, membership-based organization in Pottsville that serves more than 345 member companies.

“Last year, we had a record number of schools, 24 across four counties,” said Courtney Fasnacht, executive director of the council. “We are training specifically in essential skills; they are looking for qualified candidates.”

These employers offer jobs that have a solid career path and the program helps students learn about what jobs exist, she added.

The misconception that a four-year college degree automatically equals a high-paying job is something that the council strives to highlight, Fasnacht said.

The YES program is a partnership with the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport that offers a $4,000 scholarship for a two-year degree and an $8,000 scholarship for a four-year degree. The college is an affiliate of Penn State University. In addition, Penn State will continue to offer a one-time scholarship to all YES Northeast graduates who attend the Penn State Hazleton and Schuylkill campuses.

Since 2011, the two campuses have awarded 161 scholarships totaling $161,000. Additional Penn State campuses could offer scholarships for the upcoming school year.

The Pennsylvania College of Technology also has a 97 percent graduate placement rate, added Fasnacht. In fact, many students in their senior year already find well-paying jobs, she said.

“They have apprenticeship programs there as well,” said Darlene Robbins, president of the NPMEA and NPMEC. “This really helps defray the costs of college tuition. It’s important that we connect the right training to these individuals.”

This year, class enrollment in the YES program surged to a new high, with 1,100 students in the program, and 274 students received the YES certificate, the council reported.

That figure was an increase of about 250 participants from the 2017-18 school year. From 2007-2019, cumulative enrollment to date totals 7,501 students, with 2,633 graduates.

Many businesses throughout the region got involved in the program. For the 2018-19 school year, 52 companies offered 60 tours. Since the program began with only one school district in 2006, the program has coordinated 581 tours.

In addition, about 500 employers offer preferred interviewing for YES graduates.

Upon graduation, the students reported their interest in entering a number of fields, including the trades, medical, human services and business, which showed the largest percentages.