CountryBoy19
Grandmaster
I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but I think I have a little insight into things that hopefully point toward a correction. These insights come from 2 different sources.
For those that don't know, unemployment is low, jobs are up. We have a record number of people on welfare (many by their choice) and we have employers that CANNOT find acceptable employees.
I spoke with an electrician friend of mine. His company recently when through over 30 employees to get 5 or 6 keepers. They are desperate for workers that show up, care about the job, and aren't on drugs. Starting pay for somebody with NO experience is $18/hr. Their experience is that age/generation play NO factor in willingness to work. They tried young guys, they didn't want to work, they tried middle-age guys, they didn't want to work either. The ones they found willing to work? Young guys with a family they have to support.
Other perspective: My wife is a school teacher, they recently had an in-service where an employment agency came in and spoke to them about the skills gap, or the lack of skilled workers willing to work. He spoke about how much they are paying right now in various careers with or w/o experience etc. At the end of his speech the school administrator got up and had to calm things down a bit because this agency is paying starting wages for no college-education, no-experience workers that rivals the pay of the teachers that were in attendance. I think there were several teachers or aides that were seriously considering quitting their job to go work for this agency. My wife could QUIT her job that she had to get a college education for, pay out of pocket to provide supplies for, pay to maintain a state-mandated license for, and go work a skilled job for more money starting out than she is making now with 7 years employment in her field.
This is a problem, and I don't think it has gotten the attention it deserves. This problem has been a long-time coming, and VERY few people are doing anything to upright the wagon. Schools don't teach skilled trades anymore (very few do), parents don't emphasize skilled trades anymore, kids don't have any interest in skilled trades anymore.
Oh, that electrician, he said that if he were to start his own company today, he could be a millionaire in 5 years there is so much work out there.
For those that don't know, unemployment is low, jobs are up. We have a record number of people on welfare (many by their choice) and we have employers that CANNOT find acceptable employees.
I spoke with an electrician friend of mine. His company recently when through over 30 employees to get 5 or 6 keepers. They are desperate for workers that show up, care about the job, and aren't on drugs. Starting pay for somebody with NO experience is $18/hr. Their experience is that age/generation play NO factor in willingness to work. They tried young guys, they didn't want to work, they tried middle-age guys, they didn't want to work either. The ones they found willing to work? Young guys with a family they have to support.
Other perspective: My wife is a school teacher, they recently had an in-service where an employment agency came in and spoke to them about the skills gap, or the lack of skilled workers willing to work. He spoke about how much they are paying right now in various careers with or w/o experience etc. At the end of his speech the school administrator got up and had to calm things down a bit because this agency is paying starting wages for no college-education, no-experience workers that rivals the pay of the teachers that were in attendance. I think there were several teachers or aides that were seriously considering quitting their job to go work for this agency. My wife could QUIT her job that she had to get a college education for, pay out of pocket to provide supplies for, pay to maintain a state-mandated license for, and go work a skilled job for more money starting out than she is making now with 7 years employment in her field.
This is a problem, and I don't think it has gotten the attention it deserves. This problem has been a long-time coming, and VERY few people are doing anything to upright the wagon. Schools don't teach skilled trades anymore (very few do), parents don't emphasize skilled trades anymore, kids don't have any interest in skilled trades anymore.
Oh, that electrician, he said that if he were to start his own company today, he could be a millionaire in 5 years there is so much work out there.