Northern Essex Community College (NECC) is addressing Massachusetts' workforce mismatch: with 1.2 unemployed persons for every job opening and over 30,000 manufacturing positions available, the state needs better pathways to connect untapped local talent with advanced manufacturing sector needs. Our continued partnership focuses on scaling education-to-workforce innovation to help tens of thousands of Massachusetts residents enter the workforce, develop relevant competencies, and grow their earnings.

Building on our foundational partnership, NECC is now launching the Base Manufacturing Program, co-designed with leading regional employers including Raytheon, Crystal Engineering, and Joseph's Pasta. This employer-aligned model delivers career-connected credentials through precision measurement, machine operation, safety, critical thinking, problem solving, and workforce communication training essential across nearly all manufacturing roles.

Offered at no cost to participants and designed to align with emerging federal workforce funding, the program removes barriers and expands access to training for adults looking to gain new skills and for recent high school graduates exploring direct pathways into the workforce. NECC's bold, community-based recruitment strategy makes pathways visible and easy to access while tapping into the 10,000+ job seekers supported annually by MassHire.