In this episode of Workforce 4.0, host Ann Wyatt speaks with Josh Ebert, Curriculum Development Manager at A3 Association for Advancing Automation. Ann and Josh go in depth about the evolving landscape of educational content and its impact on workforce development. They discuss, at length, the importance of on-demand learning, the shift in perceptions around career technical education, and the need for rapid updates in educational content to keep pace with industry changes. The conversation also touches on the skills gap, the dilemma of advanced degrees versus hands-on experience, and strategies for companies to attract and retain talent through internships and real-world experience. Whether you're pursuing a career in manufacturing, or a company eager to learn more about the real ROI of developing educational content for your business, this is a must listen episode. In This Episode: -00:00: Introduction to The Workforce 4.0 Podcast -00:30: Welcoming Josh Ebert, A3, To Workforce 4.0 -08:14: An Intro To A3's Content Creation -16:15: The Call To Change Perceptions of Education -18:51: The Challenge of Recruiting Fresh Graduates -21:23: Adapting To Critical Workforce Needs Beyond Advanced Education -24:15: Navigating the Skills Gap in Manufacturing -27:02: In Manufacturing, Real Experience Matters Most -35:50: Connecting The Dots Between Future Generations And Businesses -37:16: Final Takeaway: Partnering With Companies To Invest In Our Youth -38:54: Final Thoughts And Point of Contact -39:53: Podcast Outro More About Josh Ebert Josh Ebert is the Curriculum Development Manager at the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), where he works to create practical, engaging training for today’s rapidly evolving workforce. His unique career path—spanning media production, K–12 education, and digital workforce development—gives him a creative and well-rounded perspective on how people learn and adapt throughout their careers. Having navigated his own career transitions and picked up new skills along the way, Josh brings a personal understanding to the process of reskilling. At A3, he focuses on building accessible online programs that help employers and workers stay ahead of automation, AI, and other emerging technologies. The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi: Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here .
