An aging work force combined with a growing economy means our nation will need 20 million additional workers over the next 25 years, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Where are all of these workers going to come from, particularly those needed within the skilled trades, where the labor shortage already plagues our nation¹s manufacturing plants? Already we see repeated calls for labor falling on deaf ears, as signs and advertisements for laborers hang for weeks or months before job openings are filled. Many manufacturers find themselves limited not by the traditional productivity constraints of shop size and capital equipment but by the severe shortages in the labor force. Possible solutions lie in productivity improvements such as automation or overtime ‹ any way to obtain more production out of the current labor pool. But this will not propel the U.S. manufacturing base much further for much longer. This country, specifically its teachers and counselors, must focus more energy on making sure more young men and women not particularly interested in working in traditional white-collar careers find a home and career in the skilled trades.
Traditional skilled-labor roles such as machining and welding suffer from an image problem ‹ dirty, dangerous, smoky, oily, hot, you name it. While this image might have been somewhat true at one time, for several years now, suppliers of welding and machining equipment have made significant strides in improving the working conditions for these skilled trades people. Today¹s manufacturing shops are a far cry from those of 10 or 20 years ago. Fume exhausters and air cleaners are now standard in every shop. Developments in ergonomics help ensure the long-term careers of welders and other trades people.
In short, well paying and rewarding jobs for skilled laborers abound. Working environments are clean and safe, and the tools available are ergonomically optimized, in some cases computerized. Further, skilled laborers need not be limited in their hopes and dreams; the practical knowledge base they develop, coupled with the drive to continue to learn and succeed, often leads to upward economic mobility. Many welders, for example, move on to become shop foremen, maintenance engineers, robot operators or programmers, degreed welding engineers and instructors or teachers.
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