Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • ITEC
    • Silicone
    • Online Exclusive
    • Latex
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Rubber Division IEC
    • Blogs
    • Sustainability
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
  • War in Ukraine
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
  • Data
  • Events
    • RN Events
    • RN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • Rubber News M&A Live
    • 2022 Hose & Belt Manufacturers Conference
    • 2022 International Silicone Conference
    • 2022 International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
    • 2022 Women Breaking the Mold
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automotive
February 05, 2021 09:51 AM

Developing future workers key to fueling growth in mobility

Automotive News
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Getty Images
    Detroit Aerial Panorama during sunset.

    From scooters to air taxis, a tectonic shift in how people and goods move around is underway. As mobility changes, so do work force needs. The Michigan Mobility Institute, founded in 2018, is attempting to prepare workers for the jobs of the not-too-distant future, bringing together educators, startups and global companies to ensure talent needs are met.

    This month, co-founder and board Chairman Jessica Robinson, 39, appeared on the Shift mobility podcast to discuss the nonprofit's latest developments and the seismic changes across the transportation landscape. Here are edited excerpts. The entire episode can be found at autonews.com/shiftpodcast.

    Q: Michigan Mobility Institute was founded two years ago. How have you seen the mobility world change in that short time, and how has your thinking about the institute evolved?

    A: One of the things that's been really encouraging since we launched the institute was continuing to connect with others in the community who see the importance of some of these topics, kind of pushing this conversation forward and partnering with others. What maybe has changed over the past two years is COVID heightened certain areas of technology and pushed their time horizons forward a little bit more. In other cases, it's pushed the timelines further out.

    Q. In the past, Detroit has been known as the Arsenal of Democracy. On the website, Michigan Mobility Institute says the city can be the Arsenal of Mobility. What does that mean?

    A. With the Arsenal of Democracy, it was the people that powered the industrial know-how to actually deliver those machines that were very important to us at that part of our history. So, as we think about being the Arsenal of Mobility today, it again starts with people and making sure they're trained and ready. And also making sure that we are not losing sight of where the industry is headed, whether it's something like the arrival of electric vehicle and battery technology or the importance of software.

    Jessica Robinson

    Q. Who are the partners of Michigan Mobility Institute, and what's the model you are carving out with them?

    A. It's a really exciting model, in the sense that through a convening organization—that's how we think of ourselves here—we can bring various parties together. They bring the expertise to say, "Here's what we need to hire this year, next year, three and five years out." Any one of these companies could have done training like this on their own, but there's a recognition that by doing it together, you're actually kind of pressure-testing what you're designing, and doing it in a way that is a rising-tide, lift-all-ships type of approach. You're expanding the pie, not all poaching from the same talent pool.

    Q. When you talk about that collective rising tide helping to create jobs here in this region, what's the competition for that? Silicon Valley? China? How do you frame that?

    A. There's a segment of jobs that have slightly different answers to that. Certainly in the manufacturing centers, those are technician jobs based here in Detroit.

    How you address folks working on electric vehicle powertrains has a strong geographic element. What's changed—and especially with this work-from-home environment—is many of the jobs that we're preparing people for are software-based. They don't necessarily have that same baked-in requirement of a hands-on presence.

    A. The startups we're talking to actually have expanded their geographic recruitment area for these jobs. So if there was a requirement that you had to be here in southeast Michigan before, maybe there's not anymore. That's actually a challenge we now have as we think about growing the talent pool here.

    If you can go and recruit software people in Austin or Silicon Valley or wherever and they don't have to move, does that really drive economic development and bring the community together here?

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Hexpol Silicones nearly triples space with move to Akron facility
    2
    Cooper-Standard, Saleri seek to simplify EV cooling systems
    3
    Danfoss Power Solutions, former Eaton Hydraulics see success a year after purchase
    4
    Wacky World of Rubber: The true story behind the rubber match
    5
    Biden signs bill aimed at boosting U.S. chip production, competitiveness
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • ITEC
      • Silicone
      • Online Exclusive
      • Latex
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Rubber Division IEC
      • Blogs
        • Products
        • Wacky World of Rubber
      • Sustainability
    • War in Ukraine
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Resources
      • Directory
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data
    • Events
      • RN Events
        • 2022 Hose & Belt Manufacturers Conference
        • 2022 International Silicone Conference
        • 2022 International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
        • 2022 Women Breaking the Mold
      • RN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • Rubber News M&A Live
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION