The following is a guest editorial by Stan Johnson (WEAC president) and James Haney (president of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state’s largest business advocacy group).

Wisconsin is facing an important challenge – a challenge that must be met if our state is to maintain its economic health: Wisconsin's manufacturers are experiencing a growing shortage of skilled workers. This "skills gap" must be closed.

The dearth of skilled manufacturing workers is not a problem exclusive to Wisconsin. In fact, a recent study by the National Association of Manufacturers reported that 80 percent of manufacturers surveyed face a moderate-to-severe shortage of skilled workers.

However, the skills gap in manufacturing takes on specific significance in Wisconsin, where manufacturing represents 22 percent of the state product, second highest in the nation. We have more to lose if we fail to successfully meet this challenge because of the essential role manufacturing plays in our state.

We believe Wisconsin's technical colleges will be a critical component of any strategy to confront this important challenge. Wisconsin's 16 technical colleges are the state's primary source for training in technical careers – and an essential provider of the skilled graduates manufacturers need.

With one- and two-year programs in a broad array of technical and industrial occupations such as machine tooling, computer numerical control operation, welding, mechanical design and electro-mechanical technology, the technical colleges represent a direct pipeline into good-paying manufacturing jobs.

The technical colleges are also a key provider of skill training for workers already in the manufacturing sector. High quality technical college training programs specifically tailored to employers' needs lead to a more productive and flexible work force, while simultaneously opening to employees the possibility of advancement along career ladders.

We all have a common interest in ensuring the health of this critical state resource. The programs and training offered by the technical colleges are well connected to current employment trends in the manufacturing sector and elsewhere in the labor market, such as the healthcare field, where strong demand for skilled workers persists. The training the technical colleges provide will play an important role in ensuring the health of our economy and workforce for years to come.