Whether in mining, construction, fabrication and assembly, equipment installation and repair, or other industries, there is a shortage of skilled tradesmen/ technicians to do essential work. More than a few of my clients lament they can’t find enough good mechanics, electricians, welders, pipefitters, or general maintenance workers; if they do, it’s hard to keep them, because they are in such high demand.
Most of the tradesmen I have worked with, especially the older ones, do not have a four-year college degree. Some do not have a high school diploma or a GED. A common theme I have heard from more than a few of my friends in the trades: “My kids are going to go to college so they don’t have to work like this. I want them to have it better than I did.”