b'CRAFTING CRAFTSPEOPLEIndustry-led training and vocational programs are the solution to the shortage of workers.By Christopher Tate ing an adequate number of personnel to support the need.H ave you recently tried to hire a ma- Demand for craftsmen and crafts-chinist, a welder, an electrician orwomen is high. Countless openings for any other type of craftsperson? If so, youtoolmakers, machinists and every other likely believe that it is harder than ever.type of craft are listed on job boards. Talk Metalworking professionals are in a dif- to any manufacturing operations leader, ficult situation, and it does not take aand he or she will confirm the demand. Nobel Prize-winning economist to recog- Listen to news reports, and you will hear nize that this is a classic Keynesian prob- small-business owners discuss limiting lem of supply and demand. business expansion because they do Multiple media outlets and govern- not have access to enough skilled labor. ment sources would have us believe thatThe problem threatens the economy these circumstances are a result of re- and industrial machine that made the cord-low unemployment and older work- United States the wealthiest country in ers leaving the market. However, posi- the world.tive economic conditionsdepend-ing on how the coronavirus continues toFinding Solutionsplay out in the months aheadand re- So how do manufacturers fix the prob-tiring baby boomers simply have exac- lem?erbated a situation that has existed for aFirst, they need to strengthen vocational long time. The industry just is not creat- education programs beginning in high ctemag.com/cteguide.com49Workforce.indd 49 4/16/20 6:09 PM'