By james art FREMONT, Neb. — Gov. Jim Pilon and other state and local officials on Wednesday spotlighted Nebraska’s booming industry — manufacturing — whose job numbers have reached their highest point in more than 20 years.
But the stars of the event, held at Structural Component Systems, a Fremont-based construction supplies manufacturer, were a dozen local high school students who are dually enrolled in trades-focused college courses.
Fremont teenagers learning construction, welding and other skills at their high school’s newly opened Career Technical Training Center represent a growing pipeline of talent that helps drive manufacturing.
It’s the state’s second largest industry after agriculture, said KC Belitz, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. He said it contributes $21.6 billion to Nebraska’s annual gross domestic product — a 57 percent increase from five years ago.
“It’s pretty amazing what manufacturing is doing in the state of Nebraska,” Belitz said, saying young people’s career choices determine growth. “Manufacturing really creates great careers – well above the national average in terms of salary.”
The average annual wage for the state’s manufacturing industry last year was $81,000, Pilon said.
About 109,000 workers are employed in the sector, according to the Nebraska Department of Labor.
Month of production
Wednesday’s event at Structural Component Systems (SCS) attracted around 30 guests. It was part of a series of stops Pilon and Belitz made to highlight the impact of the manufacturing sector on Nebraska and to proclaim October as the state’s Manufacturing Month.
They also visited the expanding farm equipment company Mighty Giant in Beemer and Cargill in Schuyler.
At SCS, the workforce has grown 165 percent in the eight years Diane Mallett, director of human resources, has been there. The company, which is one of the largest single-site wood component manufacturing enterprises in the country, currently has approximately 570 employees.
One of Fremont’s largest employers, SCS designs, manufactures and supplies roof and floor trusses, wall panels and engineered wood products for homes and other buildings.
Mallette said the company has about 20 jobs, including for designers and estimators. She said the new pool of talent expected through the Career Technical Education Center at Fremont High School, which opened in August, is integral to the company’s growth. SCS team members frequently visit the high school and hold career fairs to encourage students to explore career options in manufacturing.
Students receive free tuition to earn college credit downtown through Metropolitan Community College, said Randy Schmailzl, president of Metro, who also spoke at the event.
He said more than 8,500 high school students in a four-county region took an MCC class this past school year, with many exploring career opportunities in the skilled trades and manufacturing fields for free.
“These are not small numbers,” Schmeilzl said. “It’s really important that we have a pipeline.”
Of Fremont High’s 1,700 students, about 700 have taken courses at the career center that count toward both high school and college credit, said Jason Novotny, a construction technology teacher.
Among the students are Levi De Boer, who wants to become an electrician, and Elaine Steinbach, who is following her grandfather’s path to welding.
“I would go hang out with him for hours,” Elaine said of her grandfather and his workshop. “I mean hours.”
Levy said he likes working with his hands.
“I love to learn,” he said. “But I don’t like the traditional classroom setting.”
Renewed interest
Mike Johnson, executive vice president of manufacturing for the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, said renewed interest among young people has helped boost manufacturing employment.
Young people start their careers, he said, then realize they can “up-skill” in the same industry that invests more in automation and higher technology solutions.
In Nebraska, Johnson said, many manufacturers, such as farm equipment manufacturers, are supported by the state’s long-standing agriculture industry.
“These sectors support each other and make each other strong,” he said.
Another growth factor, he said, is the post-pandemic drive to manufacture supplies and materials in the US. Many businesses were frustrated by supply chain bottlenecks, Johnson said, and saw the importance of manufacturing closer to home.
The SCS event featured speakers including Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg and Fremont Public Schools Superintendent Mark Shepherd.
Shepard said the career center concept has really taken off as businesses have become involved, offering practical guidance on what the industry needs.
Courses include robotics, automotive, health professions, construction technology, business and entrepreneurship.
Shepherd said the community paid for the structure through a voter-approved bond issue. He said Metro and the Fremont School District used state and federal funds to apply for grants to equip the facility. He said industry also contributed.
“It’s a model that works,” Shepherd said.
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