Hey, Young People: Change The World ... Through Manufacturing?

By: Cynthia Bowers
Topics: Field Notes

(CBS)

Cynthia Bowers is a CBS News correspondent based in Chicago.

If you're like me, you'll be shocked to hear that there are thousands of high-paying jobs out there – and no one qualified to fill them. Even more surprising: They are in the manufacturing sector! America's manufacturers are screaming to anyone who will listen that their obituary was written too soon.

While it's true nearly 5 million manufacturing jobs have been lost over the past three decades – nearly 3 million just since 2001 – the economic devastation caused by those jobs losses is huge; at the same time the higher-paying, highskill manufacturing sector has grown 37 percent. Seven million of these workers are nearing retirement, and amazingly, 90 percent of America's manufacturers say they are short qualified workers.

How can this be?

These jobs require strong math, science, and computer skills. Students who are strong at math and science don't usually think "manufacturing." And their parents don't suggest manufacturing as a career option.

Sadly, the young people who are more interested in vocational training usually don't get the math or science training they need for these jobs. So the National Association of Manufacturers has come up with a slick ad campaign called Dream it, Do It, which targets young people, telling them they can literally change the world through manufacturing. They can help develop environment friendly products, from textiles, to automobiles, to asphalt! And they can earn around $70,000 a year doing it. The strategy is targeting young people where they hang out online: YouTube, MySpace and Facebook.

It's an odd conundrum facing America's manufacturers. They can sell their products around the world, but haven't been able to sell the next generation on them.

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by tool105 March 14, 2008 10:41 AM EDT: I''m a machinist in the northern Indiana area. There are a ton of jobs here for good machinist. The main problem is there is a huge shortage of skilled machinist.I see it every day people that say they are a machinist and once they start work you can tell by their knowlge of the job that they either lied on their job application or only have 1 or 2 years expeirience with no formal trainning. If some one is realy wanting to be come a machinist or tool maker I would recomend doing what I did and do an apprentiship in the trade not only will you get the proper training in school but you will get plenty of hands on training in the shop working with journeyman who can show you all of the tricks of the trade.It is the only way to get the kind of expeirence you will really need to make it in this trade.; Reply to this comment


by cbs7sisters March 12, 2008 5:06 PM EDT: PART II - Public Awareness%u2013Schools, Teachers, Parents & Students (middle/high school & post-secondary) - presented with info. about educational requirements of manufacturers & existing mfg. jobs & careers in area. Businesses - register open positions w/One-Stop Career Centers to help gov. accurately calculate demand for mfg. workers, instead of simply putting up signs/advertising. Advertising $$ are wasted when, over time, they match/exceed cost of train. new workers.

Training%u2013Current in-house & external train. programs maximized & new programs developed to fit need. Training - localized. It is difficult & costly for workers to travel great distances or live away from home for train. that takes many weeks. Businesses - refer unqualified applicants to career ctrs & train. programs to channel interest & energy of motivated individuals. One-Stop Career Centers - refer unemployed & underemployed to mfg. train. programs.

Networking%u2013Businesses, gov. agencies, community groups & train. providers - network to brainstorm on solutions to current employment shortages. Solutions include: coordinated development of mfg. consortiums & train. initiatives; grant writing to raise train. funds; shared sponsorship of train. between businesses & train. providers; low-interest/creative loan programs for mfg. trainees; development of mfg. apprenticeship & mentoring programs; support for community & in-school mfg. events, programs & competitions such as BotsIQ & First Lego League.; Reply to this comment


by cbs7sisters March 12, 2008 4:47 PM EDT: PART I

I am the Outreach Coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh''s Manufacturing Assistance Center (www.mac.pitt.edu / 412-826-3531), part of the Swanson School of Engineering''s Industrial Engineering Department. I see first-hand that a majority of manufacturers are desperate for machinists, welders, fabricators, & employees with increasing skills & responsibilities.

Manufacturing forms the stronger %u201CWe Make It%u201D portion of the U.S. economy, bringing in money from foreign countries, instead of the weaker %u201CWe Consume It%u201D portion which involves trading money back and forth between Americans or sending money to foreign countries for their products and services. Our entire view of manufacturing needs to change, along with support mechanisms for manufacturing.

What many people do not know is that manufacturing is both "high-tech" & %u201Clow-tech%u201D. The majority of modern manufacturing equipment is computer-controlled, requiring operators with a wide range of skills in problem-solving, programming, math & material science while low-tech manufacturing processes are still required for prototyping before high-tech products can be automated and mass produced. Both forms of manufacturing are needed and in wide use today.

Public awareness, training & networking are three key components required to solve the current labor shortage in manufacturing. Part II of this discussion includes a few of solutions to address this situation.; Reply to this comment


by adventureone March 11, 2008 10:39 PM EDT: I would love to have a job about now,
yes your right, they should of done there homework first..

let me know the list of employers looking for workers.. I am very ready; Reply to this comment


by poll-woes March 11, 2008 9:05 PM EDT: Nixon went to China and changed the US Foreign trade agreements. Manufacturing jobs slowly went overseas. By Fords time Republicans were saying retrain to High Tech since the jobs in factories were beginning to leave. Plants in America closed when the new plants overseas were in full swing, leaving many American workers unemployed. Remember?
In the 80s Reagan said the manufacturing jobs were a thing of the past and that the economy would flourish with small businesses. Remember?
During Bush Sr. presidency many small businesses were pushed out and gubbled up by major corporations. Remember?
2001 GW Bush began Outsourcing American High Tech Jobs to India with government Financial Incentives. 2003 or 2004 Bush commented on America no longer being the leader in High Tech industry. He said that America was now the Service Industry. Remember?
Recently a professional money expert on CNN said the manufacturing jobs were leaving and workers should retrain to the High Tech Field.
The Labor Department gave their report of the jobs loss for February to be at 63,000. February''s report is 3Xs what the January''s report is. Much of it is manufacturing jobs.
Yet now they are saying manufacturing is the way to go. Did the American manufacturing companies forget to do their homework before making the claim that there are high paying jobs in manufacturing available?
Hmm, room for thought.; Reply to this comment

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