Need a workforce that's ready, willing and able?
MidAmerica has it NOW.
Workforce
MidAmerica is located within Mayes County where over 30% of the
employment base is engaged in manufacturing according to County Business Pattern data. This significantly exceeds Oklahoma's statewide average of 11%.
According to 2010 population estimates by ESRI and the Bureau of the Census, over 100,000 people reside in a 20-mile radius of MidAmerica and over 335,000 people within a 30-mile radius. The 30-mile radius includes some areas of Tulsa and Broken Arrow. Over 917,000 people reside within a 40-mile radius of MidAmerica.
Career Help.
Good high-paying jobs in manufacturing don't necessarily require four-year college degrees. For help in making a decision about your career direction, a new career path due to job loss, or details about retraining, please visit:
Careers
CareerOneStop
In July 2012, there were over 7,900 people who were unemployed in the primary labor force area for MidAmerica. The six-county labor force area includes the counties of Mayes, Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Rogers and Wagoner. For monthly 2012 and annual 2011 data, please
click here. For annual local area unemployment statistics dating from 1990 through 2011, please
click here.
Also, a significant number of workers commute to
jobs out-of-county each day, according to the 2000 Census. In 2000, 4,789 workers commuted from Mayes County to jobs in other counties, an increase of 42.8% from 1990. Thus, an employer also has an opportunity to attract these workers. And our
workforce travels to work nearly 26 minutes per day, which is above the state average. However, over 36% of the workforce travels 30 minutes or more.
Our workforce is well-accustomed to shift work. Of over 3,400 employees that work at MidAmerica industries, an estimated 60% work either the 2nd or 3rd shift rotations.
For the most current workforce information from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, please
click here. Or if you want a custom report, please email
Don Berger with your request.
Certified Employees
When communities are certified as Work Ready, they gain a competitive advantage over non-certified communities because they can quantify a skilled workforce to an existing employer or a new business considering Oklahoma for a new location.
Mayes County, the home of MidAmerica, is the first geographic area in the nation to be designated as a Certified Work Ready Community.
Mayes County leaders worked closely with their local Workforce Oklahoma center and the
Northeast Oklahoma Workforce Investment Board to become one of the first communities to use the WorkKeys assessment test to measure the readiness of potential employees. In Mayes County, WorkKeys exams are given by OSU Institute of Technology, Workforce Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation and Northeast Technology Centers.
Training
New businesses may choose from several programs for training their employees.
Customized Industrial Training
Ranked among the best in the nation, the Training for Industry Program (TIP) is provided FREE by the Oklahoma Department of Career & Technology Education. Often described as "Oklahoma's Secret Weapon", the program may include job-specific technical training, employee assessment, organizational design, strategic planning, and much more. Each program is "custom-designed" to meet the specific needs of a company. Training takes place with the local technology center, Northeast Technology Centers at either the on-site Industry Training Center at the MidAmerica Industrial Airport or at the south campus just west of Pryor Creek.
Employee Screening & Referral
The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission provides customized assistance in the screening and referral of qualified job applicants at no cost to business. Local and statewide labor searches are also available.
Job Training Partnership Act
This federal program provides 50% of on-the-job training costs and 100% of the classroom training for qualified low-income individuals.
Advanced Technical Training
More advanced technical training is offered through OSU Institute of Technology, a branch of Oklahoma State University and a state-supported university. Occupying a 12,500 square foot training center at MidAmerica, OSU Institute of Technology provides highly specialized workforce development programs for some of the nation's largest corporations.
For more detailed information about our employee training programs, please ask for the "Industry Training" documents via our
Express Request email service.
Building A 21st Century Workforce
There are two Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) directed programs that are currently being taught at the elementary and middle school levels in Mayes County. Both are designed to motivate and excite students to be creative and innovative during instruction and laboratory activities.
- DoD STARBASE
DoD STARBASE is a premier educational program, sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. At STARBASE students participate in challenging "hands-on, mind-on" activities in aviation, science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and space exploration. They interact with military personnel to explore careers and make connections with the "real world." The program provides students with 20-25 hours of stimulating experiences at National Guard, Navy, Marine, Air Force Reserve and Air Force bases across the nation.
Military facilities provide the perfect resources and setting for stimulating activities and unprecedented perspectives of real-world applications of science, technology, engineering and math. In Mayes County, students go the Whitaker Education and Training Center.
At DoD STARBASE, students have the chance to learn to fly a plane on a flight simulator, build and launch rockets, use software to design a space shuttle, see the inside of an air refueling tanker or jet, visit the jet engine shops or air museums, and talk to pilots and other military personnel who willingly share their adventures and expertise with the children. DoD STARBASE is a world leader in introducing the latest STEM curriculum to elementary students. The inquiry based curriculum, engages students in exciting "hands-on, mind-on" experiments and technology activities.
In Mayes County, schools including Pryor, Chouteau, Locust Grove, Salina and Osage are participating in the program. The program is offered to 5th graders with well over 400 students participating in STARBASE. Participation is growing annually. A pilot program for Pryor schools is planned for 7th and 8th grade students next year (school year 2012-2013). Please click here for the STARBASE Pryor website.
- Pryor's Project Lead The Way: Gateway To Technology / Technology Student Association
Beginning in school year 2010-2011, the Pryor Public Schools began offering Gateway To Technology One (GTT1) through initiative called Project Lead The Way (PLWT). The program is currently being offered to 7th and 8th grade students in the Pryor School District. There are 93 students enrolled in the program.
PLTW / GTT prepares students to be the most innovative and productive leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and to make meaningful contributions to our world. Through an engineering hands-on curriculum known as GTT, the program encourages the development of problem-solving skills, critical thinking, creative and innovative reasoning, teamwork collaboration and the love of learning. PLWT also offers a unit called Biomedical Sciences.
The current curriculum GTT1 consists of Design and Modeling, Automation and Robotics, and Energy and the Environment. Beginning in school year 2012-2013, the curriculum will be expanded to include GTT2 that includes Flight and Space, Science of Technology, and Magic of Electrons. The program will also be expanded to include 9th grade students. For more information on PLTW, please click here for the website or here for the PowerPoint.
In addition to these programs, Pryor Public Schools and some students belong to the Technology Student Association, a national, non-profit organization for middle and high school students with a strong interest in technology. Since TSA was chartered in 1978 over 2,000,000 students have participated.
Membership
150,000 middle and high school students
100% likely to graduate from high school
35% female and/or minority representation
2,500 teachers and advisors
75% college-bound
2,000 plus schools in 48 state delegations
Mission
The Technology Student Association fosters personal growth, leadership, and opportunities in technology, innovation, design, and engineering. Members apply and integrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) concepts through co-curricular activities, competitive events and related programs.
Competitions
TSA provides rules and guidelines to its student members and advisors for 32 middle school level and 33 high school level competitive events. Competitions feature problems in communications, design and engineering, environmental systems, manufacturing/construction, and transportation. In both team and individual events, students are challenged to use and improve their skills in STEM areas. Visit the TSA website for more information.
Education
In total, there are eight public school systems in Mayes County. Five of the schools go from K through 12 including Pryor, Adair, Chouteau-Mazie, Locust Grove and Salina. The other three communities do not have high schools. The Mayes County School Systems chart links to the 2011 District Profile Reports for each and a link to the district's website if available.
Thirteen
colleges and universities are located within 80 miles of MidAmerica, with 10 located within 50 miles. One four-year state-supported institution, Rogers State University, has a branch located in Pryor Creek. The RSU facility will be relocated to MidAmerica by the end of 2013.
Oklahomans want to see deserving students succeed and know the importance of well-trained workforce. To that end, the Oklahoma has set-up a unique program for 8th, 9th and 10th grade students that will help fund their college education, whether it be 2-year, 4-year, or technical training. The program is called the
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP).
Census Quick Facts
The primary workforce area for MidAmerica consists of the following counties:
Please
click here for the latest Census Quick Facts data on each of the counties in the primary labor force area and for the State of Oklahoma.
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