| Although the United States has lost millions of | | | | distance education, the welding program and the |
| manufacturing jobs to countries like China, there are still | | | | machine tool technology program where enrollment is |
| well paying, job opportunities for skilled workers in the | | | | up 50 percent. A Canadian company, North Alabama |
| manufacturing sector right here. In a study on the issue, | | | | Corporation, that builds railcars is a major employer of |
| the United States Labor department reported that too | | | | skilled workers in the region and needs welders and |
| few young people consider manufacturing careers and | | | | machinists. |
| often are unaware of the job skills needed in the more | | | | Hamill Manufacturing |
| advanced manufacturing environments. As more and | | | | In a 2007 survey from the National Association of |
| more baby boomers retire, the problem is expected to | | | | Manufacturers, 20% of small to medium manufactures |
| accelerate and many fear these well paying jobs will | | | | cited retaining or training skilled workers as their |
| remain unfilled. | | | | primary concern. One manufacturer feeling the effects |
| Some states, schools and businesses are collaborating | | | | is precision parts maker Hamill Manufacturing, near |
| to address this shortfall in skilled workers, directly | | | | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. |
| through vocational training and workforce development | | | | This maker of high end parts for military helicopters |
| programs. | | | | and nuclear submarines currently has machines without |
| State of Wisconsin | | | | skilled operators. In a story for Reuters, John |
| Wisconsin governor, Jim Doyle, announced tax credits | | | | Dalrymple, president of Hamill, says the factory |
| for manufacturing businesses under the "Next | | | | working under capacity is not the result of a shortage |
| Generation Manufacturing" program. This Next | | | | of business, in fact he has more orders than the |
| Generation Manufacturing program will consolidate | | | | company can fill. Instead the machines have no |
| existing tax credit programs into an $85 million tax | | | | operators because of a shortage of skilled workers. |
| credit program to assist companies creating jobs and | | | | Hamill Manufacturing invests an average of $120,000 |
| training workers to develop the Wisconsin skilled labor | | | | per apprentice to try and train the qualified skilled |
| pool. The goal of the program is to create 5,000 new | | | | workforce they need. |
| manufacturing jobs and to train 4,000 skills workers for | | | | Keep in mind that there is still general decline in the low |
| existing jobs in Wisconsin. | | | | skilled manufacturing sector in the US. Job seekers, |
| Northwest-Shoals Community College in Alabama | | | | who are considering careers in the sector, must do the |
| Enrollment at Northwest-Shoals Community College in | | | | needed research to find the pockets of growth and |
| Alabama has increased 3 percent over the last year | | | | specific niche areas where skilled workers are still very |
| to 3,250 students. The president of the college, | | | | much in demand. |
| Humphrey Lee, attributes the increase to three factors: | | | | |