For Educators – Forging Futures

Ways to get involved through Forging Futures:

Externships

Get industry experience and connect with employers in the area to support your classroom or school needs

Classroom Presentations (from FF or employers)

Invite FF staff or employers to speak to your students about the manufacturing industry and career opportunities for them

Curriculum

Use FF curriculum to help cover topics in manufacturing and prepare students for upcoming experiential opportunities

Field Trips

Take your students on a virtual or in-person exploration of local manufacturing employers

Made Here Expo

Bring your students to Idaho’s largest Manufacturing Day event to network with employers and get hands-on experience with leading technology innovations

If there is another idea you have for how to get involved with Forging Futures, let us know

As Idaho continues to grow in population, so do the industry and career opportunities available, especially in manufacturing. Connect with us to help your students work towards a promising career in manufacturing.

Manufacturing is viewed as one of the most vital industries in maintaining America’s living standards and is ranked third in terms of the importance of creating new jobs and fourth in maintaining a strong national economy according to Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute’s survey. Manufacturing has one the highest tenure for workers in the private-sector coupled with one of the lowest turnover rates, while also providing a very high average wage compared to other private-sector industries; however, in Idaho, employers rank availability of skilled workers as the most burdensome obstacle and 59% reported recruiting workers from California or Washington to fill openings*. Elevating students’ awareness of these statistics as well as in-demand jobs that match their goals could improve the number of young, qualified individuals that fill manufacturing jobs ranging from production to marketing and programming to law.

And if at the end of these opportunities, students realize they don’t like manufacturing or want to pursue a different job in the field, we consider it a win since they can focus their efforts into something more suitable.