SAN ANTONIO -- Jobs are available in our city, but why are there thousands of openings in one field, when so many people are hunting for work?
It's all about finding skilled workers for manufacturing jobs. Holt Cat, the caterpillar equipment and engine dealer has opened its own training facility. The pro tech facility opened weeks ago and currently has about 80 job openings for skilled workers.
Today Holt Cat held a grand opening to talk about what the $3,000,000 center offers.
"We offer a complete curriculum of certified training for cat equipment, diesel equipment and generators and electrical switching gear," said Guy Clumpner, an executive at Holt Cat.
In San Antonio, the company provides grants to help instructors train high school and community college students to find work without waiting two to four years for a degree.
Richard Moreno, a senior at MacArthur High School has learned a lot and he is still considering college too.
"It motivated me to shoot higher to make generators or decide how to make transformers," said Moreno.
According to the San Antonio Manufacturing Association, or SAMA, there are 2,500 jobs in the industry available now. Many of them range in salary from $18 to $30 based on starting ability.
Responding to the jobs report, Workforce Solutions Alamo set up it's own training courses for machinists and technicians, and there is training to qualify workers in other fields, according to Patrick Newman.
"It's not all about oil and gas," said Newman. "It's all of the other industries that have these gaps as well and we will be able to train 2 to 300 people and get them back into the workforce in industry this year."
The executive director says the program is called "Just In Time' workforce training. Additionally, he said the program expects to help 300 people graduate and find a job.
Toyota Executive, Mario Lozoya, walked away from the grand opening event praising Holt-Cat for the potential benefit to the motor company.
Toyota needs workers trained in robots and automation to handle and maintain equipment at the South Side Toyota Assembly Plant.
To apply for Just In Time,
CLICK HERE.
To apply for a job with Holt Cat,
CLICK HERE.
