Award is part of a $2.3 million investment to build a stronger skilled workforce
Rutland, Vermont – Oct. 23, 2024 – The GE Aerospace Foundation, joined by U.S. Senator Peter Welch and Rutland Mayor Mike Doenges, announced a donation of $200,000 to Stafford Technical Center in Rutland to support workforce training in the area, part of a $2.3 million donation GE Aerospace and the GE Aerospace Foundation are awarding to similar organizations in the United States and globally.
The funds will purchase two advanced machines increasingly used in manufacturing: a Pick & Place machine, used to maintain accuracy of repetitive tasks, and a Coordinate Measuring Machine, used to check the dimensions of parts and assemblies to ensure they meet design intent. Around 100 students annually will be able to train on these advanced machines, better preparing them for a wide range of manufacturing jobs in Vermont.
“We are making this donation because skills are the number one factor in worker success and retention in manufacturing. No matter where they work, the entire manufacturing industry will benefit from these students learning on the latest machinery,” said GE Aerospace Rutland Site Leader Dan Shelley. “GE Aerospace and its Foundation will continue to invest in the workforce so they can build the future of flight, just as we have for more than 50 years in Rutland.”
The donation to Stafford Technical Center is part of the $2.3 million that GE Aerospace and the GE Aerospace Foundation are awarding to various organizations to help build a larger skilled manufacturing workforce and create job opportunities. These initiatives will support over 1,250 current and future manufacturing workers.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. aerospace manufacturing industry has nearly four times as many new workers (15%) since the pandemic compared to manufacturing overall (4%). Meanwhile, the industry faces twin challenges of strong demand and an aging workforce, with more than one-third of workers older than 55.
On Monday, GE Aerospace and Morning Consult released a survey of 1,000 U.S. workers in all manufacturing industries that skills development is the key to worker success and retention as the aerospace industry works to meet strong demand from customers.
The survey highlights the importance of investing in continued training with one-third of manufacturing workers hired post-COVID saying they lack confidence in their skills, compared to 79% of those hired prior who were "very confident" in their skills. A majority of their coworkers (69%) agree that newer employees would benefit from additional training, although 83% did report receiving training in the past two years.
These donations aim to reduce barriers identified in the Morning Consult | GE Aerospace survey, where 32% of workers cited a lack of training opportunities, 27% mentioned personal time constraints, and another 27% pointed to financial constraints. Other key findings include:
- Skills Are Key to Worker Retention and Success: Nearly all (95%) believe that effective skills increase the likelihood of staying with their current employer. One-third (33%) say skills training has been the biggest factor in their success.
- Demand for More Training: Two-thirds (66%) of manufacturing workers have received skills training in the last five years, but 80% believe they need new skills to advance, and 62% expect their employer to provide this training.
Earlier this year, GE Aerospace marked the 50th anniversary of its apprenticeship program, and the company announced that it plans to invest nearly $25 million in its Rutland, Vt., site. The facility produces components for nearly all the commercial and military engines that GE Aerospace makes.
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About the GE Aerospace Foundation
The GE Aerospace Foundation, an independent charitable organization funded by GE Aerospace, complements the company’s purpose to “lift people up” in communities where employees live and work around the world. The Foundation’s philanthropic strategy and programs focus on engineering education, workforce development, and disaster relief. We also support GE Aerospace employees through programs such as Matching Gifts and STAR Awards. When GE Aerospace launched as an independent company in 2024, the GE Foundation was relaunched as the GE Aerospace Foundation, commencing a new chapter that builds on the successful, 100+ year legacy of the previous GE Foundation. Learn more at www.geaerospace.com/company/philanthropy.
About GE Aerospace
GE Aerospace (NYSE: GE) is a global aerospace propulsion, services, and systems leader with an installed base of approximately 44,000 commercial and 26,000 military aircraft engines. With a global team of 52,000 employees building on more than a century of innovation and learning, GE Aerospace is committed to inventing the future of flight, lifting people up, and bringing them home safely. Learn more about how GE Aerospace and its partners are defining flight for today, tomorrow and the future at www.geaerospace.com.