Bridging the Skills Gap: 36% Increase in Metalworking Credentials

In 2014 the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) awarded a record 18,947 credentials to students and workers, a 36% increase from 2013. Individuals earning these certifications are seeking to enter, or advance, in jobs in the metalworking industry. NIMS has developed skills standards ranging from entry-level to master-level that cover the breadth of metalworking operations, including metalforming and machining. NIMS certifies individuals’ skills against these national standards via credentials that companies can use to recruit, hire, place and promote individual workers.

Mark of Excellence

“It is clear that the precision manufacturing sector is strong and growing, and more students and workers are preparing for success in the wide variety of jobs our industry offers,” said Jim Wall, Executive Director, NIMS. “NIMS would like to congratulate more than 8,000 individuals who earned at least one industry-recognized credential last year and have the ‘mark of excellence’ that will make them highly sought-after talent.”

More Info and Resources

NIMS credentials certify an individual's skills as measured against industry standards and they are the common "currency" and language between schools and companies, instructors and employers, and learners and workers. Companies and individuals can view the NIMS Credentialing 101 Video Tutorial to learn details about registration, fulfilling project requirements, taking the online theory tests, and testing costs. Information is also available in this PDF document, where you can download slides from the video plus additional reference documents.