Adam Belz, writing for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, recently reported on the high demand for skilled workers and the problems employers, especially manufacturers, were having in filling vacant positions. Belz points out the plight of welders by illustrating how Code Welding & Manufacturing of Blaine, Mn. has moved from one-dimensional to multi dimensional workers. Prior to the recession, Code’s welders would have had limited and basic skills and worked on scope narrow projects. With the recession, Code found that welders had to weld but also had to set-up, operate, and even repair shop equipment, set-up projects, read blueprints, and inspect each other’s work. Code achieved this by sending those welders who were willing and able to advanced training so they could work on various projects using a wide variety of skills, tools, and equipment. In return Code rewarded them. Those workers who were unwilling to take on new challenges were left behind. The moral of the story is simple; today’s worker needs a wide and deep toolbox of skills. This goes for welders as well as office workers.
Many in our society are beginning to question the value of education and its high cost. At the same time we are saying that we must make education affordable for more individuals and that, as a nation, we must have better educated workers. However, one thing is clear; there are good paying jobs which are available to those with one to two years of craft and technical training and skills. Some of them, like welders, electricians, plumbers, and advanced machine operators are not found in a clean, air conditioned office working 9 to 5. Blue collar workers are often seen as an under-achiever who lacked motivation to excel and simply clocks in and out and has checked their brains at the factory gate.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the pay rates of many jobs which require more than high school but less than four years of college, below is a sample.
Do not be mislead, many of these occupations require licensing and certification by state or local regulatory agencies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates demand for occupations in the areas of installation, maintenance, and repair (many of which are included above) to grow by 14% between 2010 and 2020. However, I would be the first person to argue that individuals who want to go to college should go to college. But from my own personal experience, I can tell you that a couple of years spent as a welder and a millwright left me more mature and better prepared and gave me a strong appreciation and motivation for a college education.
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