SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – On Tuesday, Governor Mike Parson visited the Advanced Manufacturing Job Fair at Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield to announce the creation of 500 new training opportunities with the Certified Production Technician (CPT) certificate.
The goal of the CPT certification program is to raise the level of performance of production workers, in a high-demand field, both to assist the individuals in finding higher-wage jobs and to help employers ensure their workforce increases the company’s productivity and competitiveness. The CPT credential will be available statewide at all public two-year institutions that offer a standardized Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) credential, preparing workers to enter the industry and advance along a manufacturing career pathway. Participants who complete the CPT credential have the potential to earn an annual starting salary of $30,000.
In his State of the State address, the Governor announced his commitment to workforce development by updating training pipelines to ensure economic growth in Missouri and partnering with employers to develop that talent.
“One out of four jobs in Missouri directly supports our strong manufacturing industry,” said Governor Parson. “It is important we remain focused on building and ensuring that our workforce is prepared to meet the demands of tomorrow. Today, we recognized employers who are committed to taking the steps to ensure that workers are adequately trained and have opportunities to succeed,” said Governor Parson.
Advanced Manufacturing represents 8.6 percent of Missouri’s total private sector employment, employing 202,419 workers across 9,727 establishments in 29 industries. More than a quarter of all jobs in Missouri support the manufacturing industry, with an anticipated growth of nearly 10 percent by 2026.
