Technical training touted for Utah high school grads

SALT LAKE CITY — College isn't for everyone. And for those who don't want to delve into years of study and research and increasing debt, the Utah College of Applied Technology is touting manufacturing as a plausible alternative that puts students to work sooner than a degree would.

According to the Utah Manufacturers Association, manufacturing jobs pay on average 30 percent more than the average Utah wage.

"I think we can do a better job asking students what they want to be when they grow up, and helping them find their niche," said Tom Bingham, president of the Utah Manufacturers Association. He said many of the available jobs should be particularly attractive to high school graduates who want to get into the job market quicker, versus pursuing a degree.

Seventy percent of the jobs available in Utah, he said, don't require a bachelor's degree.

Welding, machining, technical electronics and positions within the microchip industry are some of the higher-paying jobs within the industry and comprise 10.6 percent of all state employment (approximately 125,000 workers). Bingham said the fields are expected to continue to grow as manufacturers from nearby states look to Utah for possible relocation.

Manufacturing has changed significantly over the years, and almost everything in today's plants is computerized. Training is required along with certification in some areas, but for most jobs, degrees are not required.

"The days of graduating from high school and going straight to work in a manufacturing plant are gone. They have to have more skills than that," Bingham said.

UCAT and its eight applied technology college campuses across the state offer training in 76 career programs and served about 42,000 adult and high school students in 2009. Many students select programs in high-tech and manufacturing industries, such as aerospace and defense systems, automotive, marine and general aviation applications, as well as marine and sporting goods products.

"Manufacturers need a well-trained work force that is skilled in lean production, understands how to reduce variance in products, exhibits leadership and has an understanding of manufacturing processes," said UCAT President Robert Brems. The UCAT campuses provide market-driven technical education to meet the needs of Utah employers, and in the current economic climate, he said, "a number of good-paying manufacturing jobs in Utah went unfilled for lack of people to fill them."