Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, KAM celebrate Kentucky Manufacturing Going Pro
Cumberland, Ky. – Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College and the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM) are celebrating rookies in advanced manufacturing and the companies hiring them. Just like NFL athletes who go pro, these students prepare for the next level — a good career in the manufacturing field.
According to Southeast President Vic Adams, many of the College’s students are unemployed or underemployed because of the declining coal industry and outmigration of jobs. “Our fast-track programs give these students the opportunity to earn a credential in a high-demand field allowing them to return to the workforce quickly and earn a competitive wage,” he said.
This year, Southeast has 37 manufacturing graduates and 21 business partners. The 16 colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) had more than 3900 manufacturing grads and 435 business partners.
Students graduated from the following manufacturing-related programs.
- Computerized Machining and Manufacturing
- Welding Technology
- Electrical Technology
- Air Conditioning Technology
“We’re excited to join KCTCS for this virtual Going Pro event,” said KAM Executive Director Lee Lingo. “The KCTCS colleges offer Kentuckians affordable technical education and direct access to thousands of high-paying jobs across the state. Kentucky would not be the manufacturing and logistics powerhouse it is without the workforce to back up our standing. The programs offered through KCTCS coupled with its apprenticeship to direct-hire jobs are unparalleled. The skilled trades are the foundational and continually-needed jobs of the future. The Kentucky Association of Manufacturers is proud to partner with KCTCS to highlight the workforce of the future through Going Pro.”
Kentucky has 4500 manufacturing facilities employing more than 250,000. According to a 2020 wage and benefits survey from KAM, the overall weighted average wage for participating companies is $23.52 per hour or nearly $49,000 a year.
More information about the graduates and employers are available at the Going Pro website.
Southeast highlights the workforce of the future with Going Pro Signing Day.
