“If you want to make America great again, you have to make work cool again,” was a quote from Mike Rowe on Tucker Carlson tonight (3/1/17). There are 5.6 million vacant jobs out there and 75% of them don’t require a four-year degree. Businesses are in desperate need right here in Utah for workers – skilled workers. Utah is a state with many manufacturing companies and the lack of skilled workers is taking a toll on businesses. The mentality in today’s society is if you don’t go on to a university, you aren’t going to get a good paying job. There are those out there that just aren’t cut out for years of college and yet they don’t realize there are other options available.
Vocational education is just as valuable – especially here in Utah. For so long there have been the terms “higher education” and “alternative education,” making “alternative” sound less desirable. For many, though, learning the technical skills in construction, machining, electrical, composites, non-destructive testing, and so many others can turn into amazing jobs that the skills are needed right here in Utah.
Right now in Utah, the unemployment rate is very low at 3.1%. If you talk to many of the manufacturing companies in the area, though, they are still in desperate need of workers – skilled workers. Rowe stated, “There is a belief in the country that says we can cure unemployment by creating more opportunity. The skills gap has nothing to do with unemployment. The skills gap proves that opportunity alone isn’t enough to get people ‘un-unemployed.’ You can have all the opportunity and training in the world but if you don’t have appreciation for the work, if you aren’t talking about jobs people aspire to, you are pushing the boulder up the hill.”
What can we do as business owners, as leaders in our community? Educate ourselves in what training is out there to fill these positions. Encourage those needing solid employment to learn the skills necessary to have a successful career – understanding the “blue collar” jobs can be very successful. Not everyone is cut out to wear a suit and tie and sit behind a desk every day. Not everyone has the money or desire to study for four years before finding a “real” job.
We need to help our younger generation get excited about working – becoming more reliable and hard-working. We need to be more supportive with the blue collar jobs that many can be successful in and are very necessary for society to enjoy. If we don’t encourage learning these types of skills, i.e. electrical trades, plumbing, manufacturing, machining, construction, etc., it isn’t the “out-of-work worker” that will pay the price, it’s those addicted to smooth roads, nice homes, and indoor plumber that will suffer. We need to try and make work “cool” again so that everyone can benefit.
