A Prescription for Refilling Our Middle-Skills Workforce

To read the headlines, you would think that there are only two types of jobs in America—blue collar working class and college-educated elite. While the irony of Donald Trump’s obsession with the former has escaped few people, the truth is that everyone is ignoring the most important jobs of all—those that fall under the title middle skills. Middle-skill jobs are those that require more education than a high school diploma but don’t necessarily require a four-year degree. They are the backbone of America’s economy and include professions like machinists, practical nurses, technical sales people, computer technicians, carpenters and so on. They are going unfilled, even as millions of Americans are searching for work, which could create long-term problems for America.

To find a solution, politicians, educators, governments and business leaders would be well advised to revisit this 2014 report from the Harvard Business School. Its findings and recommendations are every bit as timely now as they were when the report was first published. If we don’t shift our attitude about the importance of middle skill jobs and respect them for the essential contribution they provide, skill shortages will continue to grow to our detriment. 

Andrew Faas is the author of

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Using an Untapped Work Force to Solve the Manufacturing Industry's Crisis

Encountering this story about the USA’s large pool of unemployed young men almost adds insult to injury after a story I read earlier, about how manufacturing corporations are desperate for skilled workers. I agree with Nicholas Eberstadt that this issue is largely invisible from the public eye, and that it’s a growing economic crisis. It’s a huge problem, but one that carries a gigantic opportunity. Is it too simple to think that this large pool of unemployed young men can be turned into the skilled workers USA’s manufacturing industry sorely needs? I think not. While there may be social or governmental solutions to this issue, I see it from the perspective of the industry itself – if manufacturing companies opened their arms to these men, and invested in them the time and education needed to become a skilled technician, their problems would be solved. I know it is easier said than done, but when employees are truly valued and invested in by their companies, the results are almost always positive. For an industry that has turned its back on young workers for a long time, embracing them now seems like the only step they can take towards saving their businesses. Read Eberstadt's full piece at The Wall Street Journal. 

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