FREMONT, Nebraska — Gov. Jim Pillen and other state and local officials on Wednesday spotlighted a growing Nebraska industry — manufacturing — whose job count has hit its highest point in more than 20 years.

But the stars of the event held at Structural Component Systems, a Fremont-based building supply manufacturer, were a dozen local high schoolers who are dual-enrolled in trades-focused college courses.

The Fremont teens, who learn construction, welding and other skills at their high school’s newly opened Career Technical Education Center, represent a growing number of talent pipelines helping to fuel manufacturing.

It’s an industry second only to agriculture in the state, said K.C. Belitz, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. He said it contributes $21.6 billion to Nebraska’s annual gross domestic product — an 57% increase from five years ago.

“Pretty extraordinary what manufacturing is doing in the state of Nebraska,” Belitz said, saying that career choices of young people are determining growth. “Manufacturing does create great careers — way above the state average in terms of the salary.”

The average annual salary for the state’s manufacturing industry last year was $81,000, Pillen said.

About 109,000 workers are employed in the sector, according to the Nebraska Department of Labor.

Manufacturing Month

Wednesday’s event at Structural Component Systems (SCS) drew about 30 guests. It was part of a flurry of stops Pillen and Belitz made to underscore the impact of the manufacturing sector on Nebraska and to proclaim October as Manufacturing Month in the state.

They also visited the expanding Mighty Giant farm equipment company in Beemer and Cargill in Schuyler.

At SCS, the workforce has grown 165% in the eight years that Diane Mallette, director of human resources, has been there. The company that is one of the largest single-site wood component manufacturing facilities in the country currently has about 570 employees.

One of Fremont’s largest employers, SCS designs, manufactures and delivers roof and floor trusses, wall panels and engineered wood products for homes and other buildings.

Mallette said the company has about 20 job openings, including for designers and estimators. She said the new talent pipeline expected via the Career Technical Education Center at Fremont High School, which opened in August, is integral to the company’s growth. SCS team members visit the high school often and hold career fairs to encourage students to explore their manufacturing career options.

The students receive free tuition to pursue college credits at the center through Metropolitan Community College, said Randy Schmailzl, Metro’s president, who also spoke at the event.

He said that more than 8,500 high school students in a four-county region took an MCC class the past school year, many exploring career opportunities free-of-charge in the skilled construction trades and manufacturing fields.

“That’s not small numbers,” Schmailzl said. “It’s really important that we have a pipeline.”

Of the 1,700 Fremont High students, about 700 participated in courses at the career center that count as both high school and college credits, said Jason Novotny, construction tech teacher.

Among the students are Levi DeBoer, who wants to be an electrician, and Elaine Steinbach, who is pursuing welding, like her grandfather.

“I’d go hang out with him for hours,” Elaine said of her grandfather and his workshop. “I mean hours.”

Levi said he likes working with his hands.

“I love to learn,” he said. “But I don’t like the traditional class setting.”

Renewed Interest

Mike Johnson, executive vice president of manufacturing for the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said renewed interest among younger people has contributed to the boost in manufacturing employment.

Young people start their careers, he said, then recognize that they can “upskill” in the same industry that is investing more in automation and higher-tech solutions.

In Nebraska, Johnson said, many manufacturers, such as producers of farm equipment, are buoyed by the state’s long-established agriculture industry.

“These sectors prop each other up and make each other strong,” he said.

Another growth factor, he said, is the post-pandemic push to produce supplies and materials in the U.S. Many businesses were frustrated at the supply chain jams, Johnson said, and saw the importance of manufacturing closer to home.

The SCS event featured speakers including Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg and Mark Shepard, superintendent of Fremont Public Schools.

Shepard said the career center concept really took off after businesses got involved, offering practical guidance on what industry needs.

Courses include robotics, automotive, health occupations, construction tech, business and entrepreneurship.

Shepard said the community paid for the structure, through a voter-approved bond issue. He said Metro and the Fremont school district leveraged state and federal funds to apply for grants to equip the facility. He said industry also contributed.

“It is a model that’s working,” said Shepard.

This story was published by Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. Read the original article: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/23/nebraskas-manufacturing-industry...