Wake Technical Community College is now part of Amazon’s goal to train employees in a new apprenticeship program, providing workers an opportunity for higher paying, in-demand jobs.
The shipping giant already depends heavily upon automation in their Garner facility. “Their facilities operate on very high tech electronic equipment that moves things different places,” said Scott Ralls, president of Wake Tech.
Ralls said Wake Tech is already preparing to add more than 30,000 square feet of space at their Beltline Education Center on Bush Street in Raleigh. It is one of four Amazon training sites across the country preparing 100,000 people for work in “mechatronics,” a combination of electronics and mechanical engineering.
According to Ralls, skilled workers trained in robotics systems are in high demand.
“Technology needs to be installed. Technology needs to be maintained. Technology needs to be repaired, and that takes very smart technology-capable people and those are the people we’re training,” said Ralls.