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Employers can't find enough skilled labor to fill jobs

November 8, 2012 10:27 AM

Hundreds of thousands of U.S. high-tech factory jobs are not filled because employers can't find qualified people. Byron Pitts reports on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Employers can't find enough skilled labor to fill jobs
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by SKILLTV November 12, 2012 12:56 AM EST
WOW! Kudos 60 Minutes for covering this challenge and we love the comments loop on this. I hope that more attention will be put on this continual challenges until the silos that are contributing to these issues will go away we have been singing, dancing, speaking before congress, investigating these issues around the world. Numerous elements are at play workers want to do less and get paid more, companies want workers to less and workers do more, training programs can't keep up with the expensive equipment, stigmas of workt ing with hands inhibit academic capable students from pursuing these programs. Also most guidance counselors have never been in a modern machine shop and most have images of the factory think of Norma Rae movie. All of these dynamics are contributors to the shortage, and companies cannot afford to carry the expense of training. Nor can accounting firms who do not pay for CPAs. FYI a 2 year program only costs about $5000 and that is not bad considering the compensation potential and the volume of jobs available.
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by nhopper31 November 11, 2012 8:09 PM EST
The interview about some companies can't find experienced worker is half true. I live in Indiana and the companies here are working their workers 12 hours a day 6 and 7 days a week. It is not because they can't find workers, it is because insurance has gone up so much that hiring additional workers would be a hard ship on the bottom line. I worked in a French company in Columbus, In. I am an inspector for one of the big 3. Granted I was not one of the regular employees I was a visitor hired by a 3rd company. Last year they had 1300 employees, this year they have 800. 400 per shift. Because they are working them 12 hours a day so they will not have to hire that 3rd shift. Or so they will not have to pay unemployment insurance. If they would hire 400 more people that would bring our unemployment rate considerably. The workers are making about $12 to $14 an hour. We need new labor laws in the U.S. We are being herded like cattle now. Last year I worked there 6 months and there was not a day that an ambulance wasn't there and also this year. I was there 3 weeks. Until my company pulled their contract. People do not want to work 10 and 12 hours a day but they make this mandatory. If you want to pay your bills and provide for your familys you MUST do this if you want a job here in Indiana. The state government has enacted laws designed to stiffle or limit the effectiveness of organized labor leading to lower paying jobs that leave people unmotivated into pursuing these jobs. I have written President Obama over this matter but have not heard back as of today. Thank you
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by rxask November 11, 2012 7:49 PM EST
I live in a 18,000 community. This is the same problem all over the country. Expecting to pay for schooling for a $12 an hour job? really? If you don't qualify for free training, which by the way is not available, then you are spending thousands to make $12 an hour and after can't pay for your student loan. This is not rocket science. I understand employers cannot afford to train, although I really do question that. Employers usally have little forsight for the future. There is little care for their employees. Only as long as they can get what they want out of them. It works both ways, you give loyalty to get loyalty. I swear managment colleges teach managers to be cold and only worry about the bottom line. And that's where they'll be out in the cold with no workers.
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by cal_crtz November 11, 2012 7:42 PM EST
I know people that worked as machinists in the factory in Connecticut they are talking about. Pay is about 30 dollars an hour for an experienced machinist-they are trying to undercut them with their factory in Nevada.
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by MarielLynne November 11, 2012 6:33 PM EST
As a teacher with twenty years experience, and having obtained my master's degree in 2008, I can assure you that there are people in college that do not have the basic skills one would expect from a fourth grader. Cheating was rampant. Many of my fellow students complained about the assignments; they were genuinely confused by the level of competence expected of them, as they had been moved along through the educational system without meeting expectations, but having received satisfactory grades. It was a problem that I encountered among my students, and I worked diligently with them to improve those necessary skills. Not everyone accepts the help offered to them in high school, and some do not have the opportunity to improve their skills. They graduate without a satisfactory level of skills. Additionally, there are so many people who do not conform to the standards of behavior expected (professional behavior, being on time, and being present for work without excessive absences). It is a problem, a serious problem.
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by jimatmadison November 11, 2012 5:20 PM EST
$12.00 an hour barely gets you out of the 'poverty' level.

And he's looking for specialized, expensive to obtain skills?!?

How about hiring the right people and investing in training them?

Then show them some loyalty instead of tossing them to the curb at the first chance to save a nickel.
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by A Citizen November 11, 2012 2:46 PM EST
Blame the unions! Non-union workers traveled great distances to help but the local NY trade unions prevented the offer of help! At a time in great need, it is outrageous to continue the UNION MOB RULE of Jourzy and New Yark.
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by yutubenut November 11, 2012 12:48 PM EST
If in this economy of high unemployment, a company cannot find good trainable, workers they are doomed due to incompetance. Just what will they do when the enconomy picks up and the availible labor force shrinks? When this economy begins to pick up it will cause a shake-out of employers, those with poor paying, poor conditions, etc will find employees quickly leaving for companies that treat and compensate employees better.
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by Scott29203 November 11, 2012 12:42 PM EST
Don't know abt. other states but here in SC the system had tech schools for training like this, but appox. 25/30 yrs. ago they allowed those tech schools to TURN into universities just like the State Ones and now there is very little tech training for any kind of JOB in SC!!! Oh the system will deny it, but SC no longer has schools or training centers for this stuff. IT may be one of the reasons why companies have moved JOBS over seas???
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by yutubenut November 11, 2012 12:23 PM EST
A quick check finds "Click Bond" only advertizing for a "Director of Human Resources" position as of 11-11-12. So they either found all the help needed or stopped looking, or were never looking.
If Click Bond needs skilled help I will find all the skilled, dedicated help they desire. The catch is to lure them away from other companies I will have to offer more than Click Bond is willing to pay.
To echo the comment of everyone else, you don't just "FIND" skilled employees they must be trained, molded, mentored. Companies unwilling to invest in their employees must ask where and how do they expect people to become skilled? Do they assume "someone else" will do it?
This issue is double edged and I write pages on the challenges of both sides, but I'm not getting paid.
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