Real Jobs RI is a central job-training program created under the state Department of Labor and Training in 2016. It is a demand-driven, workforce and economic-development initiative that is collaborative, flexible and business-led, according to DLT Director Scott Jensen and Miellette McFarlane, interim program director. Its goal is to convene industry employers, key stakeholders and groups in partnerships that build alliances to address business-workforce demands.
Real Jobs RI doesn’t do the job training? JENSEN: No, there isn’t a training room, rather it’s a program that brings in people who do that kind of work. It’s the collaborations that we fund that build the program.
Is Rhode Island a good place to grow jobs, and why? JENSEN: Yes, particularly from the perspective of training. Under the governor’s leadership, we’re doing all we can think of to provide companies with talent they need to grow. … Truth is that everyone is struggling to figure out how to train people for the new economy, and we think we’re ahead of the curve. We’re seeing General Electric, Infosys and others coming here. There’s a big rebound in manufacturing with small but mighty companies that have been here for generations. Rhode Island is a great place to do business. All we’re trying to do is keep people trained for those jobs.
JOBS
2016: 6
2017: 6
If the government could do one thing to help businesses grow jobs, what would it be and why? JENSEN: It has to move at the speed of business. The government needs to play its role, and since we are in government that means being a catalyst for the private sector. Government has to connect with training providers, educational systems and nonprofits, to bring people back into the workforce, and cut the red tape to make it happen.
What’s the most important attribute a business leader needs to grow their business and add jobs? JENSEN: Innovation, which is closely related to creativity. One of the most fun parts of our jobs is working with these creative, innovative people, with real jobs working with companies and finding solutions for their workforce challenges. … We were at Pilgrim Screw in Providence recently. They’ve been making screws since 1932, and we never knew what innovation went into a little part like that. But they’re making titanium screws for jets … and they embed chips in them to monitor vibration. Just amazing.
MCFARLANE: Another innovation is in hiring and how people are hired. One thing successful companies do is look at skill-based hiring, rather than traditional-track hiring. Companies are opening hiring funnels to those who have skills and talent, rather than pedigree.
Speaking of innovation, are old companies adjusting and adapting to new demands? JENSEN: Yes. For example, Mearthane Products Corp. in Cranston invented the urethane wheel found in copy machines; Xerox had been making them out of rubber and they were drying out, so Mearthane invented a better wheel. And now they’re the world’s largest manufacture of polyurethane parts. … They make the product in the U.S. and ship worldwide. [In 2017] they were named exporter of the year for Rhode Island by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
In which industry do you see the greatest potential for job growth in Rhode Island and why? JENSEN: Our strength is defense manufacturing, we have General Dynamics Electric Boat and all the companies clustering around Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems and others.
MCFARLANE: Cybersecurity is a great opportunity for growth these days. We’re also the Ocean State, so our marine trades are hyper-important, as well as aquaculture and all the food that comes out of our waters.
Is the falling jobless rate a good sign? MCFARLANE: Yes, we were one of the worst in the country and now we’re a smidge above the national average. One thing we’re seeing is people who’ve been out of the economy for so long because they didn’t have jobs are feeling a sense of empowerment coming back into the workforce. They’re seeing the impact of what we’re doing and are excited about working again. They feel like the state’s providing for them.
