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Report shows world shortage of specialized labor
Union carpenters work on the reviewing stand for Obama's Inaugural Parade outside the White House -- November 5, 2008
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Bill Radke: When the housing industry buckles, home construction slows way down. That must mean there must be an oversupply of carpenters and electricians. Actually, no. We got a new report today from the employment agency Manpower that says skilled workers like carpenters, electricians and plumbers are in very short supply. It's actually a worldwide problem.
Nancy Marshall Genzer tells us what's behind the shortage.
Nancy Marshall Genzer: Teenagers have for years been migrating to white collar jobs. Experts say one reason is the skilled trades have an image problem. Plumbing just isn't sexy.
"CSI" theme song
TV shows like CSI, for example, have inspired new forensic science majors. But I can't think of any shows that glorify plumbers or electricians.
"This Old House" theme song
PBS's "This Old House" is about as close as you get.
Clip from "This Old House": Alright, with the compression nut loosened, I can pull the whole assembly right out.
Not exactly riveting stuff. Manpower CEO Jeff Joerres says parents also share the blame for the lack of interest in the skilled trades. He says their mindset is "you're going to college. No matter what."
Jeff Joerres: It almost seems better to spend $30,000 and end up waiting tables after four years of college than to spend half of that and be productive and have a career in the skilled trades.
Manpower surveyed 35,000 employers across the globe. It found that a lack of skilled tradesman was the number one hiring challenge for the U.S. and five other leading industrialized countries.
Clark University business professor Gary Chaison was actually looking for a plumber when I called him earlier today.
Gary Chaison: I have a washing machine that's leaking.
Chaison says construction firms and other businesses are also having a hard time finding plumbers. And electricians. And carpenters. And the skilled worker shortage will just get worse as the economy starts to recover and companies become more interested in hiring.
Chaison: They may look elsewhere in other countries where they can find skilled workers.
Part of the solution could be allowing more skilled workers into the U.S. But Chaison says, in the long term, schools have to start offering more and better vocational programs.
In Washington, I'm Nancy Marshall Genzer for Marketplace.
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Listening to this story made me shake my head just a bit.
My husband is a journeyman electrician who has been out of work since June 2008. And with a list of over 300 men in his union also out - I wonder why that skilled trade deficit doesn't seem to exist on Long Island..
As I listened to this story today I had to wonder if the decline in trade union membership plays a significant role in the decline of skilled labor. It is a completely unscientific thought, but I would have to think that without strong trade unions, there are not good apprenticeship programs, wages aren't stable, and consistency of work would likely suffer. As a younger person trying to learn a trade, the structure and security offered by the trade union would have to make a career as a skilled worker more welcoming.
Just a thought.
Shortage of workers??? Not!
Thanks to Home depot there are a lot more none licensed people doing the jobs.
If you have a tape measure and tool belt your a Carpenter.
You got a bucket and pipe wrench your a plumber.
People in this economy today, I can do anything attitude is abundant.
Being a contractor, this can-do-anything is putting me out of business.
Trade school hahah that's for the unions to promote.
That was one of the most bizarre stories I've ever heard. I've been in the skilled trades industry since the late 80's and the last two years have been the worst ever. I know a lot of others in the trades (electricians, carpenters, conrete guys, plumbers) and they are all saying the same thing..."man I wish I could get more work." I'm in the Chicago area, so maybe it's other parts of the country that are scrambling for tradesmen. Could you guys do a follow up story and maybe point out where in the USA they are looking for all these non existent tradesmen. Thanks
There is no lower form of life than the employment agency. They want every employee to think are valueless and every employer to think they have some secret data base to tap into.
I have been a professional mathematician, a computer languages programing specialist, and a certified car mechanic. I always had trouble finding work because if you are not trying to con your way for a living managers consider you to be a fool and a lowlife.
This is just more Manpower Associates baloney.
There is no lower form of life than the employment agency. They want every employee to think are valueless and every employer to think they have some secret data base to tap into.
I have been a professional mathematician, a computer languages programing specialist, and a certified car mechanic. I always had trouble finding work because if you are not trying to con your way for a living managers consider you to be a fool and a lowlife.
This is just more Manpower Associates baloney.
Any perceived shortage of plumbers, electricians, or other workers is a function of wages and working conditions.
What is Manpower offering workers and how does it compare to union scale? Importing workers from other countries will undermine wages in the U.S.A. and additional worker shortages will result.
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