Career Pathway Need for Printing Workers is Exploding

This is an appeal to vocational schools to add production digital printing, graphic design, and introduction to graphic communications to their current offerings.

The United States printing industry is a huge manufacturing segment, employing over a million workers. The challenge to acquire talent from traditional and nontraditional labor sources is daunting. Almost every graphic communications company we speak to is concerned about the increasing shortage of skilled labor.

The graphic communications industry shift to high tech manufacturing has created a huge demand for new skills and talents. In addition to this shift is that current workers are aging, with over 30% of current workers being over 55 years old. This is putting tremendous pressure on companies to recruit employees with the necessary skills.

Contrary to popular perception, printing, and related applications are not shrinking. Innovative applications enabled by new inkjet imaging technologies have created new solutions within the packaging, label, sign, cross-media, statement, book, and home accessory segments. Estimates this year from industry sources predict that over $56 Billion in revenue will be generated by digital printing alone.  

The vocational schools that we work with are seeing extremely high placement rates for their graduating students. Every location in the country needs workers.

Unfortunately, we need more institutions to take up the challenge of preparing the future printing industry workforce. Also, some of those that are providing training for graphic designers and print workers need to immediately upgrade their curriculum to reflect current production imaging, software, and platform technologies.

In the past, the printing industry could count on hundreds of printing schools across the country to train skilled workers in various departments found in many printing companies. We need more vocational schools across the country to help prepare workers with up to date skills.

For those institutions, we offer an industry-developed curriculum, a full range of instructor resources and certifications. There should be nothing to hold back any institution that is looking to prepare students for high paying careers in the graphic communications industry. 

Virginia Department of Education updates Graphic Communications skill competencies

Frank Kanonik, managing director of Intellective Solutions recently participated in a workshop to update the Commonwealth of Virginia’s graphic communications skill competencies. The courses being taught in the Commonwealth are now aligned to the new PrintED skill competencies.

The Virginia Department of Education conducts periodic reviews of the technical knowledge required by potential employers. Bringing together educators and industry representation confirms that the graphic communications courses being taught throughout Virginia will lead to students being prepared for todays high skill, high demand and high wage careers in the print industry.

It was extremely encouraging to work with such a dedicated group of teachers that equips their students with the skills required to be successful in the printing industry. What students need to know is different from even a few years ago. Courses being taught today must reflect the newer technologies being used.

During the workshop, each skill competency, also known as a Task Statement was discussed to ensure that it was both measurable and expressed a specific action that was being learned. Also developed was a description of each task to help the educator and questions to help encourage critical thinking and discussion.

An example of a Task Statement is the following:

#72 Explain the purpose of Imposition

Definition:

Explanation should state that the purpose of imposition is the positioning of pages in a way so that the pages in the finished format document come out in the proper printed sequence and should include step-and-repeat, work and turn or tumble, and signature.

Process/Skill Questions:

• What are the consequences of incorrect use of imposition on a document?

• How has digital printing technology affected imposition?

• How would a work-and-Turn imposition differ from a work-and-tumble imposition?

• How does imposition for saddle stitch binding differ from imposition for perfect binding?

The recently updated PrintED Skill Competencies were researched and managed by Intellective Solutions. Interviews were conducted with numerous educators, printing companies and vendors to validate their completeness and accuracy. To download a free copy of the Skill Competencies, visit: www.gaerf.org/printed. 

To learn more about the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Career and Technical Education department’s efforts and success stories, visit www.cteresource.org/about/

PrintED offers assistance and accreditation for schools that offer graphic communication courses. www.gaerf.org/PrintED

For information on the Intellective Solutions newly available Introduction to Graphic Communications curriculum visit: www.intellectives.com/stem.

Production Digital Printing Education Thriving in New Jersey

Congratulations to Hudson Community Enterprises (HCE) (http://hudsoncommunity.org) for successfully launching their new Digital Printing Career Pathways program.  All the students in the pilot program have been placed in jobs within New Jersey. This year HCE plans to make the program available to 50 job ready candidates. We at Intellective Solutions were very pleased to support their efforts.

The program was established to respond to growing need for skilled workers in the very large Printing Industry. Printing is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the country. Many thousands of skilled workers will be needed to staff open positions in the next few years. As the industry continues to transition to digital technology and emerging industrial printing applications, a strong workforce is required.

Our company, Intellective Solutions along with Xerox helped HCE to develop a course using the proprietary Xerox® Digital Career Pathways Program Curriculum (//www.xerox.com/en-us/services/government-solutions/print-production-training). Students are trained at the HCE’s fully operational print shop. Within this facility, students have an opportunity to learn and develop the key skills necessary to work in a graphic communications organization. The emphasis is to give students the necessary knowledge and hands on experience that would be welcomed by any employer looking for job ready entry level workers.

Here is a summary of the program

·       12-week Intensive Digital Printing Curriculum

·       Career Development Classes

·       4 week paid internships

·       Job Placement and Higher Education Referral Services

·       Nationally recognized accreditation upon successful completion

·       Open to people with and without disabilities

The HCE Jersey City-based program is led by printing industry pro Brian Opitz, VP Digital Printing Services. Some the areas that the students are trained include pre-press, production, printing workflow and personalized printing. In addition to an industry expert instructor, graphic designer Alex Rivera works with students to help them to properly receive, proof, fix common errors and prepare files for printing.

HCE is a non-profit organization that has been based in Jersey City, New Jersey since 1957. Since the organization’s inception, the primary mission has remained consistent – creating employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment while providing valuable services to the business community.

Intellective Solutions (intellectives.com) works with vocational and STEM organizations to provide resources and support for printing industry training programs.

For perspective participants in the HCE’s program or employers looking for more information contact:

Abbe Morello , VP, Workforce Development, 201-434-3303 ext.228, amorello@HCE.works         

Sarah Barks, Senior Vocational Counselor, 201-434-3303 x437, sbarks@HCE.works