Gentlemen;
You are missing some salient points of the article. This article is addressing the shortage of skilled workers on a worldwide basis. It mentions the data was collected from the world's ten largest economic engines. The USA represents just one of the 10 studied and you have to consider the source of the information, "Manpower,” an employment agency that deals primarily with open shop environments.
An example of "the solution" to the shortage of skilled labor is provided by "Manpower,” who clearly has a vested interest in the "solution.” Their solution is to allow more migrant workers into the countries experiencing the shortage of skilled workers. "Examples of successful, targeted migration include an Ohio shipbuilder that brought in experienced workers from Mexico and Croatia, and a French metal-parts maker that hired Manpower to find welders in Poland." Notice that "Manpower" provided the workers needed to solve the "problem." Their interest in finding solutions is the money they line their pockets with at the expense of the local workers.
Chris' observation is "spot on,” the companies experiencing the problems are not willing to pay the prevailing rates in the geographic area where the work is. Maybe this is where the "Davis Bacon Act" comes into play to help protect the wages of the both union and nonunion workers in the area. Employers hate the act because it forces them to pay the prevailing rates set by the government based on the wages paid in the area. However, considering examples such as the one provided by "Manpower" in the article and from a situation I heard of on the Gulf Coast where another shipyard employs workers from India and houses them on barges to minimize interaction with the locals, the "Davis Bacon Act" sounds better and better.
The shortage of skilled workers root cause is because companies are not willing to pay the money required to fill skilled positions. Corporations could care less about the conditions of the people they employ. Their overriding interest is in paying the least amount for labor and materials, charging the highest price the market will bear, and line the pockets of the executives at the expense of the workers they employ. The mantra is that the executives earn their high salaries and their bonus' because of their expertise. What expertise? They milk the pension fund and the company's assets dry and leave for the next victim.
Why would a corporation hire a local worker with the skills needed when they can bring in immigrants, legal and illegal, at less than half the cost? It is less expensive to pay off a politician than it is to pay fair wages. Just go into any meat packing plant, they truck workers to the plants, and there is no way they are all here legally. Another "Manpower" solution?
Best regards - Al
Absolutely correct Al. In one of our other threads there was a guy looking for overseas work, as a welder. Not a chance! I've been working overseas since around 1998 and don't recall EVER seeing an American, British or Canadian welder. Not saying there aren't plenty but most are Bangladesh, Filipino, Indian, Malasian and in a few cases Korean.
To my welder brothers in America good luck, companies who have remained in the good old USA have, in many cases, found it cheaper to have fabrication done overseas then import it back in for assembly (if even that). Add one very large portion of corporate greed to one very large portion of labor unions asking for too damned much and the recipe spells America in the 21st Century.
The Gulf coast thing hmmmm I wonder if that would be Trinity yachts or Northrope Gruman in Pascagoula MS I could see these two companys busing them in
Topic Welding Industry / General Welding Discussion / News Article: Welder Shortage Threatens Economy!
