“There is an employment paradox in this country,” said Ellen Alberding, president of the Joyce Foundation, a Midwestern public policy organization focusing on economic development. “Even in the midst of massive layoffs, employers cannot find enough skilled workers.”

Projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that, during the next decade, 45 percent of job openings will be in “middle-skill” positions. These jobs encompass a wide swath of professions from construction supervisors and machinists to dental hygienists and paralegals. Still, those on the Brookings panel expressed concern that projections for the public attainment of skills necessary for these jobs does not appear to meet the high demand.

from 'Educating 'Middle-Skills' Workers' http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/02/27/brookings

largely based on the Brookings Institution policy brief (PDF):

http://www.brookings.edu/%7E/media/Files/rc/papers/2009/02_middle_skill_jobs_holzer/02_middle_skill_jobs_holzer.pdf

(I certainly wouldn't be where I am now without the 2 year course in industrial electronics course I took after my tour of duty in the military!  And after I really 'made it' and retired early, I went back for another 3 years in culinary school.  All of that led me directly into corporate training, and returning to college for the white-collar 'union card' )

I agree there is a huge gap in skilled labor needs and what's available.  I hate to say this during a recession, but there are a lot of paper tigers out there that look great on a resume only to be a complete bust AFTER you hire them.  Getting rid of a bad hire is so difficult it really makes an employer hesitant to commit.  A lot of people really are okay with going to work and just sucking at it, so long as they get paid.  Give me a highly motivated, type A personality, driven individual who wants to be a rockstar at their profession and I'll train them what they need to know and turn them loose from there over an overeducated, undermotivated, entitlement minded employee who has all the skill in the world but couldn't give a rat's patootie over their job performance.

Then of course there are some skills that are in demand that are hard to fill because people get a new job and allow themselves and their skill set to become antiquated.  They do not keep up with the technology trends, read trade articles, learn new skills.  Instead they come to work 9 to 5 then go home content that they know "just enough".  Want to be recession proof?  Learn a new skill or emerging technology every 6 to 12 months.  Bust out some certifications, new degree programs or just technical training that you can document and work like crazy to be a rockstar in the work place, then diversify.  Don't do "just enough".

Lastly many schools are not agile enough to offer education that keeps up with market skills demands.  I am finding that some smaller, more agile university's and colleges are doing pretty well at it.  In fact technical training services are all about this kind of thing and career schools do reasonably well.  But giant state unversities?  Not so much, some are better than others. 

Cajun:

I agree there is a huge gap in skilled labor needs and what's available.  I hate to say this during a recession, but there are a lot of paper tigers out there that look great on a resume only to be a complete bust AFTER you hire them.  Getting rid of a bad hire is so difficult it really makes an employer hesitant to commit.  A lot of people really are okay with going to work and just sucking at it, so long as they get paid.  Give me a highly motivated, type A personality, driven individual who wants to be a rockstar at their profession and I'll train them what they need to know and turn them loose from there over an overeducated, undermotivated, entitlement minded employee who has all the skill in the world but couldn't give a rat's patootie over their job performance.

The problem with those motivated but as yet unskilled people is that they're like twenty dollar bills lying on the ground.  Sure, there are a few out there, but it doesn't take long for them to get picked up.

-=Steve=-

SteveFoerster:

Cajun:

I agree there is a huge gap in skilled labor needs and what's available.  I hate to say this during a recession, but there are a lot of paper tigers out there that look great on a resume only to be a complete bust AFTER you hire them.  Getting rid of a bad hire is so difficult it really makes an employer hesitant to commit.  A lot of people really are okay with going to work and just sucking at it, so long as they get paid.  Give me a highly motivated, type A personality, driven individual who wants to be a rockstar at their profession and I'll train them what they need to know and turn them loose from there over an overeducated, undermotivated, entitlement minded employee who has all the skill in the world but couldn't give a rat's patootie over their job performance.

The problem with those motivated but as yet unskilled people is that they're like twenty dollar bills lying on the ground.  Sure, there are a few out there, but it doesn't take long for them to get picked up.

-=Steve=-

That's going to be my angle when I transition from the military.....highly motivated, highly unskilled.

Glor1295:

That's going to be my angle when I transition from the military.....highly motivated, highly unskilled.

But seriously, I've heard that employers like to hire transitioning military because you all actually know how to show up on time and do stuff as expected.

-=Steve=-

That's what I'm counting on.  Aside from self-deprecating humor, I cannot truly call myself highly unskilled.  My high level of motivation got me on the fast track to promotion, so I have a lot of management experience.  The downside to the fast promotion is that it would probably be a pay cut to come in at an entry level position.  Of course, I also lack the specialized experience base that most management jobs require.  This puts me in somewhat of a difficult situation.

 I think I may start a thread for advice with my situation.  It might provide me with some new ideas.

 -Glor1295

SteveFoerster:

Glor1295:

That's going to be my angle when I transition from the military.....highly motivated, highly unskilled.

But seriously, I've heard that employers like to hire transitioning military because you all actually know how to show up on time and do stuff as expected.

-=Steve=-