NJ Makers Day focuses on making and STEM-based learning. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in occupations related to STEM – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – is projected to grow to more than nine million between 2012 and 2022. That’s an increase of about one million jobs.

“New Jersey Makers Day is an important day to celebrate our state’s long history of leadership in making things and producing innovative thinkers,” said Commissioner Harold J. Wirths of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. “In an effort to cultivate makers, my department has identified advanced manufacturing as a priority industry here in the Garden State and created the ManufactureNJ Talent Network to prepare job-seekers for the high-skilled opportunities manufacturers have available.”

More than 150 libraries, schools, museums, commercial and public maker spaces throughout the state hosted a day of demonstrations and hands-on activities to share enthusiasm for the culture of making and creating.

“This is an outstanding event being conducted all across the state of New Jersey. Maker activities will expose young people to the exciting possibility of careers in manufacturing,” said Raymond Vaccari, director of the ManufactureNJ Talent Network. “Manufacturing as we used to know it is changing with the introduction of automation, robotics and other neat technologies like 3D printing. We need young people who are good at working with their hands, have good technical sense and love working with computers, to consider careers in manufacturing and NJ Makers Day is just the kind of activity to get them interested.”

The Gloucester County Library System Mullica Hill library, one of the sites participating in NJ Makers Day, offered a day of creative learning activities for children and adults, including high-tech activities like robotics and circuitry, and the traditional crafts of sewing, woodworking, and pottery. Demonstrations of 3D printing, Finch Robots, Arduino and Raspberry Pi also took place in the Maker Studio throughout the day.

“The Gloucester County Library System’s mission is to provide welcoming community spaces where people gather to learn, create, and have fun,” said Ralph Bingham, head of reference and digital services for GCLS. “NJ Makers Day is an opportunity for us to celebrate the maker culture and explore new opportunities for entrepreneurship, innovation and hands-on learning for makers of all ages!”

For more information about NJ Makers Day and the makers movement go to www.njmakersday.org.

For more information about New Jersey’s advanced manufacturing Talent Network, go to www.ManufactureNJ.org.

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