Workforce Development - A Good Investment?

For work needing specialized skills, there's a labor shortage, not a jobs shortage

Preparing unemployed and underskilled workers for skilled positions

The other day I got a message from Laura Johnson, over at Public/Private Ventures in NYC.  She was telling me about a new study that had come out entitled "Tuning In to Local Labor Markets: Findings from the Sectoral Employment Impact Study" available on their website.

I did a quick review of it, and from my point of view and it's an impressive study, loaded with sound thinking, backed up by empirical data, and packaged to answer any question a reader may have.  Here's a synopsis from the report.

For American workers, having a high school or general equivalency diploma (GED)—which once represented a means of entrance to the middle class—is no longer adequate for finding steady employment. In fact, three quarters of low wage workers have these qualifications but lack the relevant occupational skills and connections to employers needed to launch a career. At the same time, in some regions of the country there are persistent skills gaps clustered in particular industries, such as manufacturing and healthcare.Many of these jobs are expected to grow and require specific technical skills that can be gained only through focused training that is closely linked to the needs of local businesses.

Over the past two decades, an innovative approach to workforce development known as sectoral employment has emerged, resulting in the creation of industry-specific training programs that prepare unemployed and under-skilled workers for skilled positions and connect them with employers seeking to fill such vacancies. Based on earlier outcomes studies pointing to the promise of this strategy, Public/Private Ventures (P/PV) set out to conduct a random assignment evaluation to assess whether sector-focused programs could in fact increase the earnings of low-income, disadvantaged workers and job.

This study focused on three distinct programs across the country:

1. an employer/union association,
2. a social venture and
3. a human service organization.

These programs had strong effects for participants, including higher earnings and better jobs (as measured by hourly wages and access to benefits).

In the conclusion, of the report the authors point out that as we emerge from the Great Recession, which has disproportionately affected disadvantaged workers, these strategies and the organizations that implement them may represent a key element in America’s economic recovery—for its workers and its employers.

In other words, the playing field has changed over the past 3 years, and the understandings and approaches that we as workforce managers need to change as a result.

 

 

Top 10 Most Difficult Jobs to Fill Include Many in the Hourly Realm

Why are some positions consistently harder to fill than others?

Take the dire need for qualified auto mechanics. Many dealers are in a position to limit their service hours because they cannot find enough mechanics to handle the workload they are seeing in their shops. 

A part of the reason for this national phenomena is the start of the Baby Boomers now reaching retirement age. Too many of our younger workers have been brought up in a "go to college or you’ll die" mentality. Not enough have given thought to a career in what used to be considered either dirty or menial work that didn’t pay well. All of those old perceptions are long gone.

It's an issue that affects many industries, where steady good-paying positions are unable to be filled because these jobs aren't considered as "attractive" or desirable as other career choices.  Although a number of these are not "blue collar" positions, putting yourself in someone considering a position, there are two questions you may want to ponder:

1. Is this a job that I feel is worth pursuing?
2. Is the education and training I would need to do this job worth the effort?

To get insight into the matter, Manpower conducted a survey. 

The employment services company (NYSE: MAN) says 30 percent of employers
worldwide are struggling to find qualified job candidates, especially skilled
tradespeople, sales representatives and technicians. Manpower surveyed nearly
39,000 employers across 33 countries and territories to gauge their ability to
find the talent they need.

The 10 hardest jobs to fill, as reported by U.S. employers in 2009, are:

1. Engineers
2. Nurses
3. Skilled/manual trades
4. Teachers
5. Sales representatives
6. Technicians
7. Drivers
8. Information technology staff
9. Laborers
10. Machinist/machine operators

Think about how scarcity of these situations affects you.  Consider the short and long-term consequences if people continue to shy away from these types of jobs, regardless of the reasons.

Joe the Plumber's Job is Starting to Look Darned Attractive

This past week I was reading a piece that appeared in Parade magazine looking at the potential for  jobs creation due to the Green Building initiative.

The article cited a report from the U.S. Conference of Mayors says the “green economy” could create 4.2 million jobs in the next 30 years. More than 3 million would come from a switch to renewable power and alternative fuels. 

What was no big surprise to me was that it confirmed that “It’s Joe Six-Pack with a hard hat and a lunch bucket, ready to install solar panels.” It went on to prophesy that retrofitting old buildings to meet environmental standards could replace many of the 800,000 construction jobs lost recently. 

Right now, the most green jobs—including environmental lawyers, consultants, and engineers—are in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Houston.  The article points out that many of the new green jobs that are being created don’t require a college degree—only access to training programs. 

But that's soon to change, as the "hands-on" Green building takes place

Consider the change over the past 10 years where science, techology, MBA's, law and upper management were the way to make big bucks and have security.  Today it's not unusual to hear people in the trades that are sustaining 6 figure incomes, with lots of job security, and great benefits.

At a time when tech giants are offshoring any job they can, and relegating much of their US workforce to contingent staffing firms who provide workers on a project by project basis, is it any wonder that Joe the Plumber's job is starting to look more attractive than ever before?Joe the plu

Surprise! The WSJ has discovered that the Skilled Trades Seek Workers

A recent article in the WSJ has "discovered" that Unions, construction contractors and other businesses are trying to figure out how to attract more young people to skilled trades. To highlight the benefits of a career in the skilled trades, employers are turning to schools, the military and the Web.

Even though this space has extensively covered this issue, I think you'll find this article, published in August, well written

read more | digg story

Craft Shortages Update - Electricians Still in High Demand

Ever since Benjamin Franklin went outside with his kite during a thunderstorm, electricity has ruled the world. All you have to do to understand this is to remember what it was like the last time your power went out for an evening. Nothing worked. No computer, no refrigerator and more importantly, no TV.

Electricity runs everything important in our lives and when it malfunctions, somebody has to fix it, somebody who knows what they’re doing, that is. Electricity has the power to run things when it works smoothly, but, it can also burn things and kill people if misused.

Ever wonder what it takes to become an electrician?

In the United States licensing requirements for construction work are controlled by local building officials. Typically, certain types of electrical work are only permitted to be performed by a Journeyman or Master electrician. The requirements for becoming a journeyman or master electrician, and the types of work they are permitted to do, vary between states; however, there are often interstate reciprocity agreements. Not all states offer a statewide journeyman or master electrician license.

Before electricians are allowed to work without supervision, they are usually required to serve an apprenticeship lasting from 3 to 5 years under the general supervision of a Master Electrician and usually the direct supervision of a Journeyman Electrician. Schooling in electrical theory and electrical building codes is usually required to complete the apprenticeship program. A Journeyman electrician is a well rounded craftsman trained in all phases of electrical construction installation in various building styles and maintenance of equipment after installation.

A Journeyman is usually permitted to perform all types of electrical work except design of electrical systems[2] Typical apprenticeship programs emphasize hands-on work under the supervision of journeymen, but also include a subtantial component of classroom training and testing. Training and licensing of electricians is by province, but many provinces recognize qualifications received in others.

Restricted electrical licenses are also issued for specializations such as motor winder, appliance repair, audio/visual installation, HVAC installation, and similar jobs.

Existing electricians as well as those considering the trade have some great online sources for education as well.  Without leaving your living room, you can access over a hundred electrical courses from RedVector from the comfort of your easy chair (over 45 of these courses are specifically on the National Electric Code)

Is there a continued demand for this important trade?  You bet!

Here are the results of the recent Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC) survey to more than 6000 union contractors of all crafts.  The results may surprise you....

read more | digg story

Whatever happened to the Trades?

I was reading a great article today on SouthCoastToday entitled "
"Taking road less traveled brings special challenges for non-traditional students"

This piece resonated with me since I just spent last week with relatives from up north.  My nephew indicated that he had no particular interest or inclination toward college and was entering a vocational program for welding.

Knowing that he would probably do better in the vocational program I explained to him the numerous opportunities that existed across several industries including construction.  When he heard that he could make over $100k a year as a union welder his motivation went through the roof.

Here's what I found most troubling.  When I asked him what direction he had received from teachers/guidance counselors  to arrive at his choice, he indicated that none had mentioned the trades.  His grades are good you see, and students that are making the grade are often encouraged to elect a college track, which often leads to a profession.

We should all recognize the importance of the skilled trades to America's future. Thanks to the talents of America's skilled trades men and women, our country has the greatest infrastructure in the world. Our magnificent skyscrapers, our bridges and our homes, our cities and our towns are the envy of the world—thanks to you and your members.

These tradespeople also make sure our vehicles, appliances, utilities and other vital apparatus in our society work as intended.

Yet we know from you that this vital industry is facing a shortage of workers. Over the next decade, many new jobs will be created in the skilled trades. Many others will be opened up as the Baby Boomers retire. As partners, we can let schools and communities know that careers in the skilled trades are plentiful, lucrative and fulfilling.

Let's not forget the important role of skilled trades and the contributions they have made, continue to make and will make in the future to the American lifestyle.