Created by an NFIB member from Ohio
City Machine Technologies, Inc. (CMT) has established National Skilled Trades Day to increase awareness about the benefits of skilled trades jobs in the United States and to celebrate skilled trades workers. National Skilled Trades Day will be observed on the first Wednesday in May annually, as proclaimed by the Registrar at National Day Calendar. The inaugural National Skilled Trades Day will be celebrated on May 1, 2019.
CMT has been a member of NFIB since 1991. Owner Mike Kovach was a member of Ohio’s Leadership Council for NFIB and his daughter Claudia currently sits on the council as well as chairing the NFIB Youngstown Area Action Council. The family has been active with NFIB for years and hosts local meetings of entrepreneurs to talk about issues and meet with elected officials.
Finding employees is a huge need for small business owners across the country, not just in Ohio. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased 0.1 points to 101.8 in March, a historically strong level and an indication that small businesses continue to power the economy after being briefly shaken by January’s government shutdown. Overall, the Index anticipates solid growth, keeping the economy at “full employment” with no signs of a recession in the near term. The Uncertainty Index dropped six points to 79, returning to a more normal level for recent years.
“Owners are growing their businesses and expect that they can sell more if they can produce more with additional employees,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “Investment spending has been solid for the past two years and owners are choosing to invest in their workforce as well by creating new jobs and raising wages.”
Ohio has a shortage of qualified workers with the knowledge and skills necessary to fill current job vacancies or meet future workforce needs to fuel and grow a healthier state economy, provide for a more robust tax base and reduce the financial strain on public assistance programs.
According to the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce, 64 percent of Ohio jobs in 2020 will require some postsecondary education credentials. Research shows that just 44 percent of working-age adults in Ohio have a postsecondary degree or certificate. Put differently, just 4 out of every 10 Ohioans currently have the skills and credentials needed to fill future jobs. Learn more here: https://www.philanthropyohio.org/sites/default/files/Fact%20Sheet-Confronting%20Ohio%27s%20Workforce%20Crisis.pdf
NFIB applauds the efforts of members like CMT who are leaders in growing Ohio’s economy. More on National Skilled Trades Day can be found here: https://www.cmtcompanies.com/national-skilled-trades-day/
