Latest news with #JenniferMaher
Irish Independent
26-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
12 youths to experience sailing voyage first-hand from Wicklow to Wales
Funded through County Wicklow Partnership, Arklow Municipal District and SSE Renewables, the 'Celtic Tide' voyage is due to depart from Arklow Harbour on August 5, and returns on August 9. Expressions of interest were circulated to post-primary schools, Youthreach, local youth services and through the school completion programme, inviting young people aged between 14 and 17 years to indicate their interest so for the first time young people from Arklow can participate in the experience. Cllr Peir Leonard said: 'This is a first for Arklow. The 'Celtic Tide' voyage aims to foster personal development; leadership skills; promote cultural exchange and international understanding; encourage environmental stewardship and an appreciation of the marine environment. 'The 12 young people aged between 14-17 years, selected to participate in this unique experience will learn about the impact of human activity on the oceans, and how to preserve and protect our coastal ecosystems. 'This hands-on experience will inspire a lifelong passion for ocean conservation and encourage participants to advocate for sustainable practices in their communities. I'm especially grateful to key people involved in the planning and delivery of 'Celtic Tide' including Fiona Creedon, County Wicklow youth officer, Jennifer Maher from Co. Wicklow Partnership and Sindy Offer from Sail Training Ireland.' Sail Training Ireland will facilitate the planning and operational elements of the voyage. Jennifer Maher, who works in social inclusion and community activation at County Wicklow Partnership, added: stated: 'This offers young people an opportunity to engage in structured, inclusive activities that promote personal growth, informal learning, and skills development. By participating, they can enhance their educational outcomes and explore pathways to further education and employment, aligning with SICAP's mission to empower individuals and foster social inclusion.' Community engagement manager on SSE's Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 offshore project Deirdre Keogh commented: 'SSE Renewables is delighted to come on board as a key contributing sponsor of the upcoming 'Celtic Tide' youth sail training voyage. "The sponsorship request matched several of our key funding criteria including projects that are engaged in enjoying or preserving the marine environment and its local heritage, youth skills' development, sustainability learning, and social inclusion.'
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Report: As more students pursue automotive tech education, labor gap remains
This story was originally published on Automotive Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Automotive Dive newsletter. The number of automotive technicians employed in the U.S. reached 794,600 in 2023, according to the TechForce 2024 Supply & Demand report. The growing workforce is over 5% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The projected demand for automotive service technicians is expected to rise by over 470,000 between 2024-2028, according to the report. Meanwhile, the number of post-secondary completions in the transportation field increased for the second year in a row, reaching 37,449 in 2023, which may help address expected shortage of qualified technicians. As the national shortage of automotive technicians persists, TechForce Foundation CEO Jennifer Maher said it is good news to see the number of students pursuing automotive technician training increasing for the second year in a row, according to data from the TechForce 2024 Supply & Demand report. The attitude that every student should pursue a four-year university degree has broadly changed, Maher said. As the auto industry transitions to electrification, the high-tech field is becoming more appealing for young people to work in, she added. However, Maher wants the automotive industry to improve retention of young technicians by offering higher compensation for entry-level roles and building a more conducive workplace culture that many Gen Z workers seek from a career. 'There's a lot of employers who really believe you've got to pay your dues and work on the lube rack for several years,' she said. 'The problem with that is, this is a gaming generation and an information generation, so they want to know how quickly they can master and go up.' Of the more than 37,000 students who finished post-secondary automotive technician education in 2023, more than half attended a two-year public institution. Universal Technical Institute, a private post-secondary institution in Arizona, had the most graduates in 2023, with 693 students completing their automotive training programs. However, the industry must make up ground, as demand for automotive technicians is expected to grow to over 471,000 between 2024-2028, according to the report. The report projects a demand for over 89,000 new automotive technician roles in 2028, 71,671 of which will be 'replacement positions from separations'—defined in the report as new openings created by retirement and turnover. It attributes the remaining demand to growth in the industry. Maher said it is also important to consider that students pursuing post-secondary school for technician roles have options beyond the automotive industry. 'Every other industry is poaching from the same pipeline,' she said. 'It's the same kid they all want, whether you go diesel or you go to wind turbines. They're all looking for these kids who want to take it apart, put it back together, problem solve, work with their hands.' Recommended Reading Why aren't more women joining automotive manufacturing? Sign in to access your portfolio
