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Manufacturing Jobs: Sparks Waiting to Be Lit!

In an eleven minute speech, President Obama was quick and to the point on how he envisions putting Americans back to work, via manufacturing jobs. Speaking in Alexandria, Virginiato to about 100 attendees in the ‘body shop’ of Northern Virginia Community College’s Engineering building, the president talked about ‘lighting a spark’ to create American jobs.

“We’ve got to light more sparks all across America”, said the president.

Sparks in manufacturing.  Sparks in education. By the end of the decade the president wants to also lead the world in college graduates. He also wants to make going to college more affordable, and pledges that graduates will find a job once they graduate.

“So, I’ve set a goal that by the end of this decade, we are going to once again lead the world in producing college graduates. To achieve that, we’re making college more affordable and we’re investing in community colleges.”



Not only that, the president wants to ensure college grads can find jobs after graduation.

“But the goal isn’t just making sure that somebody has got a certificate or a diploma. The goal is to make sure your degree helps you to get a promotion or a raise or a job”, the president said. “And that’s especially important right now. Obviously we’re slowly recovering from a very painful recession. But there are too many people out there who are still out of work, without a job that allows them to save a little money or to create the life they want for their families. That’s unacceptable to me. It’s unacceptable to all of you.”

A new resource on the web, MySkillsMyfuture.org, a onestop career shop, let's the user enter their skill set to find a career.

Obama wants to invest more money in jobs programs that work, and eliminate those that don't.

"If the program does’t work, eliminate it. If it’s working, but more money into it. This will help grow the middle class and make America more competitive.America is ready to win the future."

With the end of school just around the corner, we're hoping the president is including jobs for young people too.   Last year, due to budget constraints, thousands of DC area youth were out of jobs.  You can't just talk jobs for adults and leave out the youth.

While the president is pushing auto manufacturing jobs, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis told us in our interview with her that manufacturing doesn’t just include automobiles. “It includes the whole spectrum”, she said, even textile manufacturing. “For about a decade we lost interest in manufacturing and we need to revitalize this.” 



The president toured the campus’ Automotive Training Program with program head Ernest Packer. Packer worked 29 years at the Ford Motor Company. On the tour the President saw a General Motors Automotive Services classroom and a lab with Ford hybrid vehicles.

The event was in partnership with Skills for America's Future, a national initiative to connect employers with community colleges to provide 21st century skills to American workers.

Also in attendance during the president's speech were Congressman Jim Moran,and mayor of Alexandria, Virginia William Euille who provided remarks to us after the event.



Related
Dr. Biden's Support of Community Colleges

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