Manufacturers open doors to students and jobseekers to highlight local career opportunities for 10th annual Manufacturing Day

Workforce WindsorEssex/News Release

Windsor-Essex, ON – Workforce WindsorEssex, Invest WindsorEssex, the Canadian Association of Mold Makers, and Automate Canada are coordinating with local manufacturers and area school boards to organize the region’s 10th annual MFG Day – a North American-wide initiative aimed at sharing technology and career opportunities in modern manufacturing with high school students and jobseekers. This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

Over 1,000 students and jobseekers will tour at least one of the 23 participating manufacturers as part of the daylong initiative designed to address local labor gaps within the manufacturing industry. Employers will have the opportunity to connect with the future workforce, highlight unique work opportunities, and help ensure the ongoing prosperity of the region’s largest industry.

According to Statistics Canada’s August 2024 Labour Force Survey, it is estimated that the region has 34,000 people employed in manufacturing, or approximately 17.6% of the region’s 192,800 employed workforce.

Students and jobseekers will tour prominent local companies to experience a day in the life, ask questions, interact with professionals in different industries, and engage in hands-on activities. Contributing sponsors include Cavalier Tool & Manufacturing Ltd., BASF Canada, and Unique Tool & Gauge Inc.

QUOTES:

Workforce WindsorEssex is incredibly proud to be part of an event that spotlights the region’s largest and most integral industry, allowing students and jobseekers to experience the potential of the trades, for the tenth successful year.” – Mikal Fakhreddin, Project Coordinator and Research Analyst, Workforce WindsorEssex

“Invest WindsorEssex is thrilled to collaborate with Workforce WindsorEssex on Manufacturing Day 2024. As we continue to experience vast regional investment and expand our supply chains, workforce development remains a cornerstone of our strategy. By fostering robust partnerships between education and industry through events like Manufacturing Day, we are not only tackling the skilled labour shortage but also securing a prosperous future for our region’s thriving economy and its largest industries.” – Joe Goncalves, Interim CEO and Vice President Investment Attraction & Strategic Initiatives, Invest WindsorEssex

“As part of the planning committee for Manufacturing Day, I am thrilled to participate in the engagement of the next generation of talent by providing high school students with a firsthand look into manufacturing careers. This initiative offers young people an opportunity to explore the diverse and innovative careers that the manufacturing sector has to offer. Both CAMM and Automate Canada are committed to promoting the vital role of manufacturing in Canada’s economy, and initiatives like this help connect students with real-world experiences, inspire future careers, and showcase the cutting-edge technology and skilled craftsmanship that make our industry thrive.” Nicole Vlanich, Executive Director, Canadian Association of Moldmakers and Automate Canada

“The Canadian Tooling & Machining Association (CTMA) is proud to support Manufacturing Day. This is a great opportunity for students to see many different career paths that are available in the precision metalworking industries. Exposure to these opportunities at a young age is crucial. Kudos to Workforce WindsorEssex and Invest WindsorEssex for putting this together!” – Robert Cattle, Executive Director, Canadian Tooling & Machining Association

“Unique Tool & Gauge Inc. is proud to take part in this year’s Manufacturing Day. The event is crucial in highlighting the importance of the tooling trade in Canada’s automotive sector. We are excited to showcase our world class quality, talent, and achievements. We strongly encourage young adults to explore a career our community!” – Darcy King, President and CEO, Unique Tool & Gauge Inc.

“At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future.  People are a big part of that future.  We want to get the next generation excited about chemical manufacturing and the vast opportunities for high-paying, stable careers.  We welcome their bold ideas and diverse perspectives to drive the innovation, sustainability, and digitalization that our company and our industry both need.” – Eric Klauber, Site Director, BASF Inc.

Manufacturing Day is about opening the curtains of our industry and letting people in, not just to see the show but to be a part of it. The Manufacturing Industry is exciting, innovative, and competitive. Year by year through Manufacturing Day and other initiatives we are changing the next generation’s perception of our Industry.” – Brian Bendig, Owner and President, Cavalier Tool & Manufacturing Ltd

QUICK LINKS:

  • Windsor-Essex was the first community in Canada to participate in MFG Day in 2013 with six companies hosting 150 students. Explore past MFG Days in Windsor-Essex.
  • In the last 12 months, there have been 505 manufacturers hiring for 4,539 positions.
  • Workforce WindsorEssex collects local job postings and apprenticeship postings from 55 job boards and employer websites to better understand employer demand for talent and to simplify job search via our innovative job finding tools: Job Board, Job Map, and Career Explorer.
  • Invest WindsorEssex is a not-for-profit organization supported by the City of Windsor and County of Essex, responsible for advancing economic development to grow and sustain prosperity in the region.
  • The Canadian Association of Moldmakers (CAMM) is Canada’s leading national association representing moldmakers, service providers, and suppliers to the global mold making Industry.
  • Automate Canada leads and advocates for the Canadian automation industry, assisting and promoting their members. Engagement in activities supporting the business success and innovation expertise of the member companies in their association is their mission.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Sarah Robson
Communications and Event Lead
Workforce WindsorEssex
srobson@workforcewindsoressex.com

About Workforce WindsorEssexWorkforce WindsorEssex is a workforce and community development board whose mission is to lead regional employment and community planning for the development of a strong and sustainable workforce.

Workforce WindsorEssex is an experienced leader in the development of regional labour market tools, research, guides, and events that create positive change in the local labour market while saving others time and effort. These resources, created in close coordination with employment, education, and industry partners, are designed to help jobseekers, employers, students, and educators, as well as the community, make more informed labour market decisions using locally-responsive, data-rich, and unbiased resources. To learn more about Workforce WindsorEssex and view our tools and resources, visit www.workforcewindsoressex.com.

About Invest WindsorEssexInvest WindsorEssex is the lead economic development agency for the Windsor-Essex region. The focus of the organization is to develop and execute strategies to retain, expand, attract, and help new businesses start-up in the Windsor-Essex region. Invest WindsorEssex is led by a board of distinguished community leaders. A team of professional staff will assist you with all your location and investment decisions by working one-on-one with businesses, to facilitate the process of starting, growing, or locating in Windsor-Essex. Visit investwindsoressex.com.

About Canadian Association of MoldmakersThe Canadian Association of Moldmakers is Canada’s leading national association representing moldmakers, service providers, and suppliers to the global moldmaking Industry. An active Board of Directors and Advisors made up of industry leaders provides the focus and direction for the organization. New board members are elected annually by the membership to ensure the interests of both the industry and our member organizations are at the forefront of our strategic vision. Visit canadianassociationofmoldmakers.com.

About Automate CanadaAutomate Canada leads and advocates for the Canadian automation industry, assisting and promoting their members. Engagement in activities supporting the business success and innovation expertise of the member companies in their association is their mission. Visit automatecanada.ca.