Mike Rowe: Why The Skills Gap And Job Shortage Persists

Mike Rowe, host of "Somebody's Gotta Do It", discusses why the U.S. has so many job openings in fields such as construction and manufacturing, and not enough people to fill them.

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Mike Rowe: Why The Skills Gap And Job Shortage Persists | CNBC

[podsmpsg]

Employers are too picky. Schools aren't preparing students for the workforce, they're too busy indoctrinating. Employers want experience, say you need to have a certain type of experience and a certain amount of experience, but you can't get experience if nobody will give you a chance. You shouldn't have to go to technical school/trade school, technical school only increases the chance of a job, it doesn't guarantee a job.

[oneloveonebeing]

they tell people to go to college and get an education for 18 years of their life. then all of sudden wonder why people arent going to learn a trade.... i mean

[arandomperson]

“Don’t follow your dreams follow opportunity and keep your dreams close by” -Mike Rowe

[josevillarreal]

There's plenty of skilled trade these contractors are just GREEDY and don't want to pay. They try to get people to do this work for $15 an hr and go thru great lengths to use Temp Personnel Co.'s so they don't have to commit.

[sorzin]

The labor pool is not deep enough to depress wages is what these corporations are really saying.

[geneclarke]

What percentage of the 6.6 million job openings require 3 or more years of direct experience to qualify for the position? It appears the vast majority of employers don't want to train and many employers are looking for qualified people to fill short term contracts. Once the job is done then they layoff the employee. There's a catch 22 situation for young people trying to enter the trades job market.

[fast]

High schools are college recruiters now

[huma]

Just having the jobs available doesn't mean that there are people in the area to fill those jobs. Moving cross country for the jobs, especially when they may be temporary, may not be feasible for a lot of workers.

[DP-jsfi]

On the job training.. trade school. I know I'm not paying 40k plus for college to pay off over my life time, with very little in return. I've seen too many people in a huge mess with college loans. It's hurting everyone.

[skippysvr]

As a 16 year old dropout, learning HVAC has put me head and shoulders above everyone else. So yeah keep looking down at plumbers electricians and heating guys. But just remember we drive Mercedes when we aren't in our work vans. Oh and I've never called anyone to fix ANYTHING in my house. That includes my heated pool and indoor hot tub. Lol. Keep trying to get that Instagram fame. Lost generation.

[caryvanarsdall]

i tell the kids in my class to find a job that fits the way they're wired. for some it's college because they want to be an engineer or a doctor, but for some it is construction or welding. i have actually done weekly labs to expose them to various industries and the most popular one was where they used an impact screw gun and stripped wires.

[Duwayneismyname]

I did construction for 4 years in multiple states. Learned a lot of skills but the wage is definitely locked in at $15. And the work environment is always so bad no matter which contractor you work for.

[jamiemackie]

Im an electrician without a license that would like to pursue one without the dog and pony show circus games unions peddle right now. I have tools will travel. Honest work for honest pay. Your stellar prospective employees are out there, they just gave up on the unreal expectations of qualified training pipelines.

[fredfrond]

In Germany they have an apprenticeship program that allows a butcher or a carpenter who develops his skills passes his exams both practical and academic. When he becomes a master plumber or master electrician after many years she/he can look a doctor in the eye and say I am as proud of my achievement as you are.

[FeatheryFool]

The problem was not one but now 2 generations being told "go to college. Go to college, if you don't go to college and graduate you're a loser!"
These jobs are good and secure jobs. Manual labor is nothing to shy away from.

[josephredmond]

The blue collar workers need more people in the Unions and the schools need to do a better job teaching kids to read technical books. Some companies are saying they just need to know how to read period.

[tyler]

I’m 21 going to make $120k this year in Manhattan working as an operating engineer helper. I’m getting my MBA while doing this and it’s honestly the best thing I’ve ever done

[WesternHome]

What he's doing is so important, we need more people like him!

[horatiobeaker]

Chew on this: In Texas, an electrician needs 8000 hours of training to become a journeyman electrician....but, it takes less than 700 hours of training to be a cop. People would much rather have the ability to turn on their lights than get a speeding ticket. Policing is a municipal revenue racket.

[sinebar]

When I was in engineering school I took a course in machine shop as an elective. I learned basic machining skills and to program CNC machines using in Mastercam. After I graduated and got a job as a design engineer, I eventually moved into a position programming CNC milling machines making prototype parts.