WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today joined Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut, BioOhio President and CEO Tony Dennis, and Ohio university and college presidents to announce new legislation that would invest in bioscience and other emerging industries in Ohio.

“Workforce development and job creation go hand-in-hand,” said Brown. “By providing tailored education programs for regional industry needs, we can create and retain jobs in Ohio. We need to ensure that Ohio workers are equipped with the skills for jobs of the 21st century.”

“The proposed SECTORS Act provides a framework which supports the implementation of educational programs, workforce training and infrastructure for the statewide expansion of Ohio’s bioscience industry,” said Dennis, “Not limiting investment to just one region.”  Dennis noted that the legislation would leverage Ohio community colleges’ growing involvement in the bioscience industry, including innovative programs at Lakeland Community College, Sinclair Community College, Cuyahoga Community College, and Raymond Walters College, among others.

Brown’s “Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success” (SECTORS) Act, which he introduced today with Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), would support the development of specialized workforce training programs at two-year colleges to meet regional workforce needs of emerging industries or “sectors.” Brown and Snowe first introduced this legislation in 2008.

The SECTORS Act addresses the disparity between high unemployment rates and a shortage of skilled workers for many emerging industries. Despite Ohio’s 9.2 percent unemployment rate, there is still demand in today’s labor market for skilled workers. This is particularly true for “middle-skill” jobs that require more than a high school degree but less than a four-year college degree. These jobs make up nearly half of America’s labor market and provide good compensation for workers.

To address this disparity, the SECTORS Act provides grants for sector partnerships among institutions of higher education, industry, organized labor, and workforce board. These partnerships would create customized solutions for specific industries at the regional level. A sector approach can focus on the dual goals of promoting the long-term competitiveness of industries and advancing employment opportunities for workers.

Brown and Dennis released an analysis that demonstrates the expansion of bioscience and underscores the industry’s critical demand for skilled workers. The report found that Ohio’s manufacturing base is transitioning to high-technology industries, with bioscience and health care industries now representing 15.7 percent of the state’s economic output—contributing $148 billion annually and accounting for 1.37 million direct and indirect jobs. More than 1100 bioscience-related entities (companies and research institutions) are located in Ohio, which represents a four-fold increase since 2001. More than 639 of these entities manufacture medical devices and equipment and eleven Ohio pharmaceutical manufacturing companies have either expanded or announced new facilities in the past few years.  A full list of Ohio bioscience entities can be found here.
The bioscience expansion is expected to add 700 new jobs over the next several years. Brown, Dennis, and Sinclair Community College President Steve Johnson discussed how the SECTORS Act would utilize two-year colleges to ensure for workforce training. Johnson discussed how Sinclair’s two-year bioscience/biotech degree program can meet regional needs.
Ohio’s economic development has been stunted by workforce development issues. According to a November 2007 report released by Gov. Ted Strickland’s office, four out of ten employers statewide reported having a difficult time finding qualified applicants.

Between 2000 and 2007, Ohio experienced a 24.3 percent drop in manufacturing employment, shedding nearly 230,000 jobs. Overall employment dropped by nearly 3.6 percent in the same time period. Compared with other states in the region, Ohio is one of only three that did not fully recover jobs lost after the 2001 recession. Ohio also had the second highest manufacturing job losses, behind Michigan.

Brown announced the legislation as he hosted host his second annual college and university presidents’ conference in Washington, D.C. with more than 45 Ohio presidents. In April of 2008, Brown launched this first- of-its-kind forum for Ohio college and university presidents and congressional leaders to initiate discussion concerning common goals, needs, and opportunities in higher education. This conference was followed by six regional forums across Ohio of college presidents and regional business leaders. Participants discussed how to addresses the disparity between high unemployment rates and a shortage of skilled workers for many emerging industries. Attendees shared ideas and best practices for preparing students for the 21st century and ensuring that Ohio’s educational institutions strategically promote educational access and economic opportunity.

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