Pathways to Success: Exploring New York’s Talent Development Strategy

At this year’s SME FUSION, one striking session brought together industry, education, and workforce development leaders to explore how New York is building stronger pathways into advanced manufacturing careers through apprenticeship. The panel featured Christine McLear, Workforce Development Lead at GlobalFoundries; Amy Stage, Director of Apprenticeship & Workforce Development at MACNY, The Manufacturers Association; and Chris White, Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development & Upward Mobility at the State University of New York (SUNY). Together, they shared how collaborative apprenticeship models shape the state’s talent pipeline and ensure employers and workers thrive in the years ahead.

Why Apprenticeship Matters

Manufacturing is facing a historic challenge: by 2030, an estimated 4 million jobs will need to be filled. In New York, as in much of the country, companies are grappling with attracting new workers, retaining current employees, and bridging critical skill gaps. Apprenticeship is emerging as one of the most effective solutions, creating structured, supportive, and sustainable career pathways while directly aligning training with employer needs.

Apprenticeships are not just about filling immediate roles but about cultivating long-term growth, retention, and upward mobility. For companies, the model provides a reliable workforce pipeline. For individuals, it offers a debt-free career pathway combining classroom instruction with hands-on experience.

MACNY: Expanding Access to Apprenticeship

Representing industry associations, Amy Stage highlighted MACNY’s role as a Group Sponsor for Registered Apprenticeship since 2017. In 2023, MACNY launched the first New York State Department of Labor–recognized manufacturing Direct Entry program, designed to increase access for underrepresented populations and build multiple points of entry into apprenticeship.

This approach ensures that individuals, whether high school graduates, career changers, or those reentering the workforce, can find onramps into manufacturing. By connecting with signatory apprenticeship employers, MACNY is making the system more inclusive and adaptable, meeting companies’ hiring needs while providing job seekers with tangible opportunities.

SUNY: Education as a Workforce Partner

Chris White shared how SUNY is leveraging its statewide presence to support apprenticeships across industries. SUNY’s role goes beyond traditional instruction; it develops curriculum, delivers related technical training, hosts pre-apprenticeship programs, and creates micro-credentials that support lifelong upskilling.

SUNY also engages with employers through industry roundtables and apprenticeship business developers, ensuring its programs remain aligned with the realities of a fast-changing labor market. Alignment is essential not only for producing work-ready graduates but also for equipping current workers with skills in digital literacy, problem-solving, and advanced technical applications.

GlobalFoundries: Apprenticeship in Action

Bringing the employer perspective, Christine McLear described GlobalFoundries’ apprenticeship initiatives as part of its workforce development strategy. The company expanded its recruitment pipeline by reaching new populations, improving retention, and embedding apprenticeships as a core element of its talent model. The results showed that apprenticeships don’t just fill vacancies; they increase loyalty, diversify the workforce, and provide companies with a competitive edge.

Building the Future Workforce

The FUSION panel reinforced that solving the workforce challenge requires bold collaboration. By linking industry, education, and workforce organizations, New York is creating a spectrum of opportunities—registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, internships, micro-credentials, and more—that meet people where they are and guide them toward long-term success.

It is clear that apprenticeships are no longer a niche strategy, they are becoming central to how companies and states address workforce shortages and prepare for the future of manufacturing.

At the heart of this effort is a simple but powerful idea: when industry invests in people, and when education and workforce systems align with employer needs, the result is sustainable growth for businesses, communities, and individuals alike.