Mid-West's Job Dilemma
Tuesday, May 29th, 2012 -- 9:17 AM
-A persistent dilemma of the Midwest industrial economy resurfaced in a new study showing that skilled trades such as welders and electricians once again top the latest list of the most difficult-to-fill job openings.According to the Milwaukee Journal, the problem is often called the "skill mismatch" or "skills gap," and it has frustrated shop floor managers who have complained for years that job openings go unfilled for lack of qualified or willing candidates, even at a time of high unemployment.
The latest findings come from the seventh-annual Talent Shortage Survey being released Tuesday by ManpowerGroup Inc., a globally active staffing and recruitment company that has headquarters in Milwaukee.
Manpower found that 49% of U.S. employers encounter difficulty filling "mission-critical" positions within their organizations. Topping the list for a second consecutive year was a category called "skilled trades," which includes craftsmen such as steamfitters, tool-and-die makers, construction workers, bricklayers, electricians and industrial workers.
Also appearing on the list repeatedly since it began in 2006 are trades such as engineers and information technology specialists.
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