The manufacturing career pathways on this site were developed to document the progression of skills, competencies, and education/training between key manufacturing occupations. Our goal is to visualize the interconnected pathways of multiple occupations and to illustrate the necessary education/training and competencies required at each level.
The pathways can be used in three ways:
- By individuals wanting to pursue or further their career in manufacturing, envisioning a career with advancement opportunities in manufacturing.
- Oklahoma manufacturers can utilize these pathways as a tool to attract potential employees to their company and as a career progression model, utilizing these progressions in concert with their own advancement strategies.
- Workforce and education partners can use them as a career planning and progression tool.
These pathways were developed with extensive feedback from Manufacturing Alliance’s Workforce Committee, which represents a diverse group of manufacturers from around the state. Development included input from all manufacturers in the state, as well as regional workforce, education, and economic development partners. We recognize the career pathways shown on this site can be adapted for different sized companies. Our list of education providers will be updated every six months to reflect new education programs across the state.
Employer: If you would like more information on how Career Pathways can be used as a retention, recruitment and career progression tool please contact Dr Sharon Harrison at sharrison@okalliance.com.
Individuals: If you would like to get information on education programs in your area or how to pursue a career in manufacturing please contact Dr Sharon Harrison at sharrison@okalliance.com.
Job Titles: Each occupation was given a common, simplified job title. For example, “Welder” in the pathway below would correspond with “Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters” according to SOC code (51-4121.06). We do not expect that all Oklahoma manufacturers will adopt the same naming conventions based upon these pathways; instead, we believe that the associated competency lists will help manufacturers, job seekers, and educators to identify commonalities across company-specific job titles. Ultimately, the competencies needed for a job are more relevant to the career pathway than the job titles are.
Job Progression: Each occupation is situated within a progression of other occupations. The pathways below situate each occupation (depicted in dark green) with other jobs of lower or higher skill from OMA’s priority list (depicted in light green), as well as other jobs that were not identified as priorities but are common growth opportunities from or springboards to priority occupations (depicted in gray). It’s important to note that the job progression is intended to show one possible pathway—perhaps the most likely pathway—but that not everyone will follow it. An individual my enter or exit the pathway at any level depending upon a variety of factors including transferable skills from other occupations or industries, level of education, earned certifications, completed apprenticeships or on-the-job training, etc. Movement between pathways (e.g. from machinist to industrial maintenance) is not uncommon.
Competencies: Each pathway identifies a set of common competencies for the job title in dark green. These are the competencies needed for that skill level and that job title only. Competencies include the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to complete the duties and tasks associated with a job. Typically, competencies are most helpful when they are written in a way that emphasizes the actions or behaviors required. This allows for easy translation to Learning Outcomes, which are the building blocks of curriculum at any level: K-12, post-secondary, and adult learning.
Education | Training: Each pathway identifies the typical education and training required for the job title in dark green. Here, we indicate only the education level (e.g., certificate or degree) or the type of training (apprenticeship, on-the-job training, etc.), but not the provider. A list of providers associated with each pathway is available through the OMA. To see what education or training is required to advance beyond the job title in dark green, reference the pathways associated with the job titles in light green.
