Building Jobs - In Manufacturing

Many Americans Are Out Of Work, But Manufacturers Are Hiring Skilled Labor

(CBS)  In the sinking economy, where can Americans turn for a job that pays well? CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers reports manufacturers are looking for employees with skills.

Employees at Bison Gear and Engineering makes motors for everything from dialysis machines to ice-cream makers. The company has all the orders it can fill. What it can't fill is jobs.

"We have about a half-a-dozen openings right now," said Bison owner Ron Bullock. "The business is there, and we have the capacity to expand it."

Bison isn't alone. With half the nation's 14 million manufacturing workers nearing retirement, 90 percent of America's manufacturers say they are short qualified workers.

Amazingly these "help wanted" signs are going up at a time when the United States is hemorrhaging manufacturing jobs. Nearly 3 million have been lost since President Bush took office in 2001.

The jobs going overseas, manufacturers say, are largely the low-skill assembly line kind. Those that remain are high-skilled, high-tech, and high-paying - around $60,000 a year plus benefits.

"Every one of these machine tools that we use is about the price of a Ferrari," Bullock said. "So you need to have good computer skills if you're gonna work in high-tech manufacturing today."

But many kids coming out of high school either aren't good enough in math and science ... or aren't interested.

"Have you ever considered a job in manufacturing?" Bowers asked Justin Peterson.

"I haven't," he said. "I figured that was a kind of out-of-date career path."

Another student said, "I'm a talker, not a worker."

---

Blog: Hey, Kids: Change The World ... Through Manufacturing?

---

To deepen the labor pool, the industry is going into schools to update both its image and the curriculum.

What do we stand to lose by not having workers ready to step in?

"More and more companies who I'm talking to are not moving now for cheap labor," said Mark Meyer, a professor at the College of DuPage. "They're moving due to a lack of a … labor force that can come in and do it."

High-tech laborer Jeremy Rusiecki says he feels secure even in these insecure times.

"For myself, I see it as a good career and good money and, having an American Dream with this job," Rusiecki said.

Building his future around a job most Americans thought was thing of the past.

[hypnotoad72]

I am good at math, have a degree, know computers like the back of my hand, and would love to see more of these types of jobs. Define "Good enough". Or even a compromise, "Will train and pay $40k to start with"?

However, it should also be asked WHY today''s kids are apathetic. Have they watched too much American Idol? Or too much nightly news, hearing about all the offshoring going on? Either way, the media does influence people - anyone who says otherwise is more indolent than the kid who prefers to be the talker.

[s_palmer2]

I''ve been their trying toget those good paying jobs,and you know what they tell you when you try?Get this they eather say your under qualified and not enough experiance,and or they say your over qualified! How are we supost to get experiance an or qualified If you can''t get hyerd? Answer that please!

[satoshi30]

Let''s face the facts. Almost some private companies can''t afford US manpower and they would likely outsource in these countries like Mexico, some parts of South America, China, India and the Philippines. They will do this on a long term basis for as long as these private corporations are gonna be happy and labor overseas is 10 times cheaper.

[carolelaine1]

I work in a factory where they are slowly moving everything out to either China or Mexico. Tell me, how can I compete with someone who is willing to do the same job I do for just $9 a day? I cannot work for that amount as it would not even buy my groceries for the week. I do not know where the answer is. Not everyone can go back to school. If you are in your late fifties, by the time you get out of school and you are in your sixties, who wants to hire you? Also not everyone is book smart and has the knowledge for schooling. There are some people that if you show them how to do the job, they can do it though.

[Gary Kempf]

I don''t know if these so called jobs exsist, I grew up in rural Illinois. the only jobs available were low paying,farming, when American people worked those farm jobs. I found myself continually scrapping a living. It wasn''t until I enlisted in the U.S. Navy,there I found specialized training, a education that allowed me to have assets that were required in the civilian world. It hasn''t been easy,I would go from high paying jobs to unemployment because most were research and development of electro-optics,electronics. I have worked Petsmart,and a laboror on construction sites. This while I continued looking in my field. I now am a supervisor in GPS service. It is never easy to find a good paying job, especially now that Bush has allowed companies to offshore most jobs. If you want that job that pays well. You have to find a way to get in the door, Once inside you can move up by proving you have the qualities and abilities required. You have to prove that you can do these jobs, that a degree isn''t required. I know this doesn''t really answer most questions listed above. It I hope show that you have to have the desire to get ahead, not just get a job...
I wish you all good luck.

[tool105]

i myself am a machinist and there are a ton of jobs in my area. what there isnt is gualified people to fill them.most of the so called machinist that I have seen in my shop lately are very poorly qualifed. what we need is for american companies to bring back the tool and die and machinist apprentiship programs like the one I went through in the mid 90s.that is the only way we are ever going to fill these high tech jobs with good people.

[omega39-2009]

The jobs going overseas, manufacturers say, are largely the low-skill assembly line kind. Those that remain are high-skilled, high-tech, and high-paying - around $60,000 a year plus benefits.

I know plenty of electrical engineer types that have watched their jobs go overseas

[omega39-2009]

Let''''s face the facts. Almost some private companies can''''t afford US manpower and they would likely outsource in these countries like Mexico, some parts of South America, China, India and the Philippines. They will do this on a long term basis for as long as these private corporations are gonna be happy and labor overseas is 10 times cheaper.

Posted by satoshi30

No corporation is an island and there actions will eventually return to bite them in the a$$.

[omega39-2009]

I work in a factory where they are slowly moving everything out to either China or Mexico. Tell me, how can I compete with someone who is willing to do the same job I do for just $9 a day?
Posted by Carolelaine1

Obviously you can''t but I would remind you that according to our current president it is "uniquely American" to work three jobs instead of just the one.

[omega39-2009]

what we need is for american companies to bring back the tool and die and machinist apprentiship programs like the one I went through in the mid 90s.that is the only way we are ever going to fill these high tech jobs with good people.

Posted by tool105

Many unions offer apprenticeship opportunities in their trade but as the unions are attacked and regulations designed to bust them are enacted, the opportunities become fewer and fewer.

[tool105]

I do work in a union shop uaw to be exact and the company that I work for hasnt had the apprentiship program for more than 20 years.until they start investing in people they will continue to have a problem filling their jobs. Here where I work we are short 12 machinist in just 1 dept.

[omega39-2009]

I do work in a union shop uaw to be exact and the company that I work for hasnt had the apprentiship program for more than 20 years.until they start investing in people they will continue to have a problem filling their jobs. Here where I work we are short 12 machinist in just 1 dept.

Posted by tool105

Tool105, when I wrote that I was thinking primarily of the ads I have seen for electrical and plumbing apprenticeships. Twenty years eh, that would make it around 1988. Wasn''t it around that time that machine shops were rapidly disappearing from the Midwest and magically reappearing in China? Perhaps the Unions thought they had enough displaced workers to fill any projected shortfall.

[tool105]

the machine shops that you are talking about are the big companys who are doing alot of outsourcing over seas.The smaller mom & pop machine shops with 50 people or less are still going strong and will continue to do so because alot of what we make aero space and medical parts takes alot of skills on the shop floor such as programming cnc machines as well as running conventional machines. being a machinist is alot more than just loading a part and pushing a button,hell any one can do that and that is alot of the kind of work has gone over seas, but if you are a skilled machinist or tool maker there are still good jobs here.

[tool105]

most of the guys that I''ve seen lately say they are a machinist but most of them could''nt count there balls and come up with the same number twice!

[vdillon2]

I can''t believe 6 job openings can create a story on the evening news. I was so furious with the implication that laid off factory workers must be idiots since these openings were available and just waiting for some lazy fool to get out of the unemployment line and fill them. Furthermore you talked to 2 Millennium Generationers - are these kids prepared to work anywhere - why not ask their "hovering parents". The student who proclaimed %u201CI%u2019m a talker, not a worker.%u201D %u2013 His parents must be so proud. As a H R Professional it depresses me to interview throughout the U S and hear hard luck backgrounds of so many American workers. Yes some are unqualified (for some jobs) due to spending 30 years in a mfg plant which needed them to be trained in a firm specific skill set (maintaining furnaces for the making of glass). And yes most of them are older workers (30%u2019s and up) but they are trainable; dependable; and willing to work. Not many people can step into a job and not need some type of training. Most jobs can be learned. Employers need to look for more than a diploma. Plus we still need %u201Cthe low-skill assembly line kind%u201D of jobs. Since school budgets are being cut many children are getting left behind -Sorry President Bush. These jobs can provide some positive contribution to a worker%u2019s self esteem; society and the economy. Not everyone is going to grow up and run for president - BUT EVERYONE IS GOING TO GROW UP AND VOTE FOR PRESIDENT.

[important3]

March 10 2008 from AUSTIN quote: Gov. Rick Perry today announced that an estimated 370,000 Texas businesses will be getting a tax cut of $90 million, thanks to the state%u2019s strong economy and low unemployment. Well Da! ever since the state''s workforce/unemployment agency was privatized and run by special interests it''s to be expected that it would have a huge sulpus. Guess rest of the country State of Texas had accountless that commited sucide back since O'' Bush was governor. Nancy Pelosi if by any chance you read this, I sure wish you would wire-tap our governor Mr. Rick Perry himself 24/7.

[important3]

March 10 2008 from AUSTIN quote: Gov. Rick Perry today announced that an estimated 370,000 Texas businesses will be getting a tax cut of $90 million, thanks to the state%u2019s strong economy and low unemployment. Well Da! ever since the state''s workforce/unemployment agency was privatized and run by special interests it''s to be expected that it would have a huge sulpus. Guess rest of the country State of Texas had accountless that commited sucide back since O'' Bush was governor. Nancy Pelosi if by any chance you read this, I sure wish you would wire-tap our governor Mr. Rick Perry himself 24/7.

[important3]

March 10 2008 from AUSTIN T-E-X-A-S quote: "Gov. Rick Perry today announced that an estimated 370,000 Texas businesses will be getting a tax cut of $90 million, thanks to the state%u2019s strong economy and low unemployment"...well Da!!! ever since the state''s workforce/unemployment agency was privatized and ran by special interests it''s to be expected that it would have a huge sulpus. Not to fast, as a life long Texan, I want to inform all across the country. State of Texas during this same period has had accountless that commited sucide for being deny their rightfully so unemployment benefits in fact back since Bush was governor. Nancy Pelosi if by any chance you read this, I sure wish you would wire-tap our governor Mr. Rick Perry himself 24/7.

[cbs7sisters]

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 - Current 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 - Businesses, 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.

[cbs7sisters]

PART I

I am the Outreach Coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh''s Mfg. 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.

Mfg. 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 mfg. needs to change, along with support mechanisms for mfg..

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

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

[iammyownboss]

Regarding Wed''s segment about Tupperware. I am also in the direct selling business, and was glad to see that focus. It is really accurate, esp about the incredible perks. I would, however, preferred to have seen an unbiased version showing the direct selling business as a whole, and included some facts showing new and established companies, and industry numbers as a whole. Showing Tupperware exclusively was incredibly myopic. CBS, please consider fleshing this story out, as there is a lot that was not covered that is well-worth mentioning, including the fact that all DS companies are now hiring!

[adri123glad]

Jobs?What jobs?I have been out of work for nearly six months and can not find a job that will pay me enough to pay my mortgage let alone eat.You talk about all these manufacturing jobs but there aren''t any on-line that I have seen.Apparently the jobs that are listed on-line aren''t there either.They are just a bunch of agencies trying to get people in their doors but then do nothing for them.I am currently registered with 3 agencies and haven''t had one offer yet.In the past 6 months,I have easily sent out 500 resume''s with cover letters tweaked to perfection and had 3 interviews. One offered me a position for less than I told them I would accept.One said I would be recommended for a 2nd interview.I have called and written to find out when but they don''t even call me back.This is a large Pharmeceutical co in So Cal and the job is still listed on CalJobs.com.The last I just had and am hopeful.As far as teaching our kids in HS,they need to teach them how to read first.My high schooler graduated with a 6th grade reading level and the teachers blame me even though they have the teaching degree.

[forthepeopl1]

HERE IS THE TRAITOR SENDING YOUR JOBS OVERSEAS....

AP) Top current advisers to Sen. John McCain''s presidential campaign last year lobbied for a European plane maker that beat Boeing to a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract, taking sides in a bidding fight that McCain has tried to referee for more than five years.

Two of the advisers gave up their lobbying work when they joined McCain''s campaign. A third, former Texas Rep. Tom Loeffler, lobbied for the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. while serving as McCain''s national finance chairman.

EADS is the parent company of Airbus, which teamed up with U.S.-based Northrop Grumman Corp. to win the lucrative aerial refueling contract on Feb. 29. Boeing Co. Chairman and CEO Jim McNerney said in a statement Monday that the Chicago-based aerospace company %u201Cfound serious flaws in the process that we believe warrant appeal.%u201D

McCain, the Republican presidential nominee in waiting, has been a key figure in the Pentagon''s yearslong attempt to complete a deal on the tanker. McCain helped block an earlier tanker contract with Boeing and prodded the Pentagon in 2006 to develop bidding procedures that did not exclude Airbus.

[bookman081]

I would like to know how I can get one of these jobs and would like to be notified on how to get in touch with someone to help me. I''m 27 years old and I live in a rural part of Southeastern Kentucky where there aren''t any jobs at all to get. I need help. I''m not married and I don''t have any kinds and I would be willing to go anywhere to get a job.

[memory2008]

It is not fair the americans have to deal with the unemployment and immigrants are keeping ours jobs working with fake ssn and green cards and Imigration doesn''t do nothing about it. And it seams that is not stoping any time soon. I Know people who went through immigration for a change of status and not even them can get a job.

[ambrosegirl8]

bookman081, there are many well-paying job in the oil industry in western ND and eastern MT right now; lots of younger single guys are coming to do that and making really good money. www.jobsnd.com would be a good place to start. (And it''s not cold here all the time!)

[fettkonserv]

Atrium Windows and Doors (Made in America by foreign Nationals)
The Shrub at his finest.
Want to wake them all up let your house, car payments, insurance policy''s go. Become homeless for a couple years it may sound crazy but it is more effective than anything else so far......Look at the Economy so far.
Stop having children their just future slaves for the RICH.

[bookwerm314]

Part of the "blame" for this lack of workers is to be assigned to stupidity by school boards ENDING vocational track options in High School! Not EVERYONE needs to go, nor should go, to college. We have had huge diploma inflation, expecting too many folks to go to college.. it is a huge time hit, a huge cost hit, and a huge industry hit to not let High School kids who want to go vocational do so! Machining classes in Denver went from 20 kids to 6 kids in the last 10 yrs, as the kids just can''t fit in the classes.. to many "required" courses that have NO relevancy to their planned careers.. there is what we are told, and then there is what is real.. you can do VERY well without a college degree.. plumbing, machining, on and on.. HVAC guys make more than engineers! But is this reflected in what is being produced by high schools? Not at all!

Vote OUT your school board, and vote in a new one that supports dual track HIGH SCHOOL! Let kids become diesel mechanics.. we can get by fine as a society with one less Business Analyst, if we get one more Mechanic.. we need the latter much more than the former. The schools are like lemmings, plunging America off of a cliff!

[ianlou]

I think the jobs this article is referring to are Controls Engineering and Machine Engineering positions: designing, building and programming automated manufacturing systems like the stuff you see on TV like "Modern Marvels" and "How It Is Made". Many of these jobs involve producing automated machines in America and installing them in places like Mexico and China.
Great work if you don''t mind travelling.