STANDING ON THE PRECIPICE
February 29, 2012
STANDING ON THE PRECIPICE
This blog was written using the following resources:
- FF JOURNAL; “Help Wanted, Skills Required” by Meghan Boyer-Editor-In-Chief, February 2012 Edition
- Manhattan Institute for Policy Research; “Leaving Boys Behind: Public High School Graduation Rates” by Jay P. Greene and Marcus A. Winters.
- “Suicide of a Superhero” by Patrick J. Buchanan
Over the last century, one of the strongest sectors of our economy has been manufacturing. “Made in America” has been molded into, printed on and adhered to billions of products used in the United States and shipped around the world. We take a great deal of pride in the products we design and produce. Manufacturing is making a comeback to American shores for several very good reasons; namely:
- Poor quality abroad. (After the first prototypes are accepted and first piece samples approved, the quality does seem to drop—at least with some companies.)
- Issues with communication
- Misuse of stated and agreed upon standards and specifications (This is becoming a huge issue. Foreign manufacturers do not seem to understand that changing materials, fastener callouts, paint and coating specifications, etc. can create real problems.)
- Rising labor rates in other countries (Due to Facebook, U-Tube, Twitter, etc. foreign workers are beginning to understand that they have been greatly short-changed relative to wages. )
- Difficult working conditions for individuals in other countries (Sweat shops!)
- Unrest around the world (If you do not believe this, go buy a tank of gas. The unrest in the Middle-East is causing speculators to elevate the cost of petroleum. )
- Issues with transportation relative to “lean” manufacturing and inventory control (I retired from GE and I know air freight from China, India, etc. to keep the assembly lines operating can cost a fortune.)
- The effect foreign manufacturing has on national security (When you lose the ability to manufacturer products you lose the ability to control the assemblies you design. You also relinquish a great deal of intellectual property. Designers and engineers work very hard to develop products only to give the designs away to thieves waiting in the wings. )
Fully, eighty-six (86%) percent of Americans believe manufacturing is important or very important to our standard of living BUT, only thirty-three (33%) percent would encourage their children to make manufacturing their profession. Somewhat of a disconnect but traditionally, a job in manufacturing does not pay as much as other professions. That fact is changing.
There are two very grave issues that affect manufacturing I would like to discuss at this time. These are: 1.) Skilled labor available and 2.) High school dropout rates affecting the selection of personnel to fill the jobs available. Let’s take a look.
- 2.7 million manufacturing workers are 55 years or older and will retire within 5 to 10 years. These workers are retiring at a rate twice the rate as young people joining the work force. People with years of experience need to be the “trainers” for those coming into the various skilled jobs.
- Right now, Deloitte, LLC estimates that 600,000 skilled positions are open and not being filled due to the lack of qualified applicants. When we mean qualified, we mean individuals who have adequate reading, math and English skills. Communication is an absolute must for high-tech employees—both written and spoken.
- 67% of manufacturing companies have a moderate to severe shortage of qualified workers.
- 56% of those companies expect the condition to worsen in the next three to five years. As stated, “There is a worsening skills gap in manufacturing and it is impacting the ability of a company to grow, expand and remain competitive”.
- Hispanics are an increasing percentage of the work force. By 2014, fifteen (15%) of the workforce will be Hispanic. Between 2004 and 2014, this workforce will increase by 7 million, from 19 million to 26 million individuals. (US Bureau of Labor Statistics). As we will see later on, the graduation rates for Hispanics is deplorable.
Now we are going to look at the possible downside creating huge issues with the availability of skilled workers. Here goes:
- The national average for graduation rates: 70 %. Of course, this means we have a dropout rate approximately 30% (HORRIBLE)
- Graduation rates for the following:
- Whites = 78%
- Asian = 72% (This seems extremely low but the data supports this number.)
- African-American = 55%
- Latinos = 53% (With an increasing percentage of Latinos entering the workforce over the next few years, few will be qualified for the skilled labor jobs.)
- Graduation rates for female workers = 75%. Graduation for male workers = 65%
- Graduation rates for African-American girls = 59%. Graduation rates for African-American boys = 48% (Huge gender gap!)
- Graduation rates for Latino girls= 49%. Graduation rates for Latino boys = 49%
- In New York City, the percentage of African-Americans proficient in English = 33%. For Hispanic = 34%. For Whites and Asians = 64%. All of these numbers (including whites) indicate a complete and utter failure on the part of our public school system.
It should be readily apparent that we are losing the Latinos and African-Americans at an alarming rate. One study indicates that there are several reasons why an adequate education is so difficult to provide if you are an African-American or a Latino:
- Lack of parental guidance
- Lure of the drug trade; consequently, no perceived need for training
- Teachers pass students because they are intimidated by the student and just want to get them out of class
- Single parent household with no male presence
- Babies born to unmarried students, thus creating extremely difficult living circumstances
Truly, these conditions could and do exist in Asian and Caucasian families but not to the extent we find them in black and Hispanic households. It seems to me that one “way out” would be a high school diploma and a college degree. I think one very important missing ingredient is the will to make a bad situation better AND proper encouragement from peers and adults. Whatever the solution, skilled jobs needing skilled labor is and will be affected for some time to come. To some extent, adequate talent is recruited from immigrants coming into our country, but even that has diminished considerably since 911. The solution remains very elusive.
June 16, 2015 at 01:48
Thanks for another informative website. Where else could I am getting that type of information written in such a perfect manner? I have a project that I’m just now running on, and I’ve been at the look out for such information.
LikeLike
July 9, 2015 at 17:47
Hello Tari. Please feel free to use any material I have written for your projects. You certainly have my permission. Good luck. Take care.
LikeLike
July 10, 2013 at 00:29
cheap-kids-bean-bag-chairs.tumblr.com/ Supporting the blog post.. all the best Loving the contribution.. gives thanks Recognize the value of the post you presented.. Good views you have here..
LikeLike
January 19, 2014 at 12:30
Hello Ronnie-I really appreciate you taking a look. You would not believe the number of favorable comments I have received from this post. Apparently readers really enjoy the topic. I think we live in difficult times and we truly are “Standing on the Precipice”. Again, many thanks and take care.
LikeLike
July 4, 2013 at 18:56
http://orangecountyseocomp.wordpress.com I was looking at some of your posts on this website and I conceive this internet site is real instructive! Keep putting up.
LikeLike
January 5, 2014 at 18:28
Hello Johanne–Thank you so much for your kind comments. I certainly appreciate you taking the time to read my posting and hope they provide “value-added”. Take care and please come again. Bob
LikeLike
July 4, 2013 at 18:22
thanks well written.
LikeLike
July 6, 2013 at 12:58
Thank you so much. I’m certainly happy you enjoyed this article. Please come again. Take care.
LikeLike
April 29, 2013 at 21:10
Thanks for posting this article. I read above article too. I always love to watch your blog.
LikeLike
May 26, 2013 at 11:15
Hello empowering. Apparently this post was enjoyed by several people. Great comments– yours included. Really appreciate you taking a look and hope you will come again. Take care.
LikeLike
April 28, 2013 at 09:35
Hi! Where did you download design of this website? It’s amazing 😉
LikeLike
May 27, 2013 at 11:39
Sony. The template I use is from Word Press. They do a marvelous job with their support. My site cost me no money whatsoever. Thank you for taking a look. I have been blogging now for about three (3) years and find it a good way to be not only creative but informative. I stay with fairly narrow subject matter; i.e. technology and personal improvement but that’s ok. I had much rather have readers who go for quality rather than quantity. Again, many thanks. Take care.
LikeLike
April 28, 2013 at 08:26
very good post, i certainly love this web site, keep on it
LikeLike
April 13, 2013 at 03:40
Thanks for posting this article. I read above article too. I always love to watch your blog.
LikeLike
May 27, 2013 at 11:47
Hello NYC Makeup. Thank you for taking a look at my site. I have been blogging now for about three (3) years and find it a good way to be not only creative but informative. I stay with fairly narrow subject matter; i.e. technology and personal improvement but that’s ok. I had much rather have readers who go for quality rather than quantity. Again, many thanks. Take care and please do come again.
LikeLike
April 7, 2013 at 21:36
I dont know i just like your style of writing, could you write more pls? (it not copied from somewhere? )
LikeLike
April 8, 2013 at 17:07
Hello Tablet Charger. Thank you for taking a look. I appreciate the comment about my style of writing. I find writing difficult and it takes me forever to launch a blog. I seem to weigh each word. At any rate, many thanks.
LikeLike
March 16, 2013 at 20:28
very interesting post, enjoyed it, thanks.we moved to ip based cameras and will never look back they offer so much more features over traditional ones and are usually cheaper.
LikeLike
March 17, 2013 at 12:56
Hello Kon taktlinsen. Very happy you enjoyed this post. Hope you will come again and soon.
LikeLike
March 3, 2013 at 17:36
Thaaanks, I was really happy, reading this article. Thank you again.
LikeLike
March 24, 2013 at 15:40
Thank you for taking a look and I certainly do hope you will come back and soon. “Stand ***” was a bit scary to write. Take care.
LikeLike
February 22, 2013 at 19:39
Great article! I\’ve been thinking about the mothering balancing act, and I work very minimally (and mostly when my son is sleeping). But balancing life with baby, husband, step kids, who all need very different things from me, is a hell of a task. I don\’t know how women work and get everything done. I hope they have amazing partners who do more than unload a dish or two and expect a prize.
LikeLike
March 2, 2013 at 20:36
Hello Jay. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my posting and comment. Really appreciate you and please come again. Take care.
LikeLike
February 15, 2013 at 08:57
Spenz, by far the fastest inputs for cash. Free but iPhone/web only
LikeLike
February 15, 2013 at 18:14
Hello Lawsuit–Many thanks for taking a look. Take care.
LikeLike
January 1, 2013 at 14:13
I like this website very much, Its a rattling nice post to read and receive information. “‘Taint’t worthwhile to wear a day all out before it comes.” by Sarah Orne Jewett.
LikeLike
January 2, 2013 at 19:02
Hello Manchester. Really happy you enjoyed the post and definitely hope you will come again. Take care. B.
LikeLike
December 26, 2012 at 18:52
I have been browsing online greater than 3 hours these days, yet I by no means discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made excellent content as you did, the net will probably be a lot more helpful than ever before.
LikeLike
December 26, 2012 at 20:02
Hello Lampezz. Thank you for the kind comments. This was a good one to write. Hope you will be a frequent visitor. Bob
LikeLike
December 19, 2012 at 13:52
Dude. This site is sick. How do you make it look this good ?
LikeLike
May 27, 2013 at 12:00
Hello Stone Manor. It’s a Word Press template. I chose the background, background colors, font style and font colors. They did the rest.
LikeLike
December 16, 2012 at 12:24
My brother suggested I might like this blog. He was entirely right. This post truly made my day. You cann’t imagine simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
LikeLike
January 10, 2013 at 18:35
Hello Youtube. Really happy you took a look and certainly hope you will come again. We are standing on the precipice. Time will only tell where we go from here.
LikeLike
December 13, 2012 at 15:50
Wonderful goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too wonderful. I really like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you are saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it wise. I can not wait to read far more from you. This is actually a wonderful website.
LikeLike
February 4, 2013 at 18:54
Hello Jimmie–You are too kind and I certainly appreciate your comments. ( It’s been a long time since I was called wonderful. ) At any rate, please come again. I just published a blog on nuclear clocks. Far out but fascinating at any rate. Take care. B
LikeLike
December 6, 2012 at 07:39
I value you stating your point of view.. I located steadfast orange county company. Enjoying the publish.. best wishes
LikeLike
December 8, 2012 at 12:42
Dean Continued–Thank you for the kind comments. Happy you enjoyed the post. I took a look at your site also. Enjoyed it–very informative.
LikeLike
November 26, 2012 at 22:52
I simply want to tell you that I am just very new to weblog and actually enjoyed your website. Probably I’m likely to bookmark your website . You actually come with perfect articles. Thank you for revealing your web-site.
LikeLike
March 30, 2012 at 15:36
Written well, mostly, but don’t you think as if the issue is deeper than that?
LikeLike
March 30, 2012 at 16:48
Hello, actually it’s really quite complex. You are absolutely correct here. I working within the manufacturing community and really have difficulties in knowing how much detail should be associated with a specific subject. Some people will read only fiction and others live and breath on facts, facts, facts. With all my blogs, I give references, unless my topic is very specific to my experiences. Again, many thanks for taking a look.
Bob J.
LikeLike
March 30, 2012 at 00:17
You wrote a fascinating point but I can’t help but wonder, what do you think about other side?
LikeLike
March 30, 2012 at 16:51
I’m not too sure what you mean by the “other side” here but, for me, this is a fascinating subject and one that will be with us for years to come. I have no issue with an individual coming to this country to better themselves. None whatsoever. I do have real problems with Americans not taking advantage of those educational opportunities simply because the subject is “too hard”. There are many many technical jobs out there waiting on qualified people to claim them but I do find some are simply not technically prepared to assume the responsiblity.
Take care.
Bob
LikeLike
March 29, 2012 at 06:08
Exciting view on this subject, can I reference you on my blog?
LikeLike
March 30, 2012 at 16:52
Absolutely. I would be honored if you did so and I certainly hope you will be a “frequent flyer”.
Take care.
Bob
LikeLike
March 28, 2012 at 21:56
I saw this article and got so excited that I buffalo punched my cat!
LikeLike
March 30, 2012 at 16:53
OK, what is “bullalo punching”? (I just hope your cat survived!!!!!! ) Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you will be come back very soon.
Bob
LikeLike
March 27, 2012 at 17:47
I concur, mostly, but don’t you feel as if the issue is more complex than that?
LikeLike
March 28, 2012 at 17:42
Hello there. You are absolutely correct about the complexities. I found quite a few ariticles on this subject with differing levels of alarm. I have first hand experience with trying to find qualified individuals that are willing to work, show up on time and can be resourceful to the point of not needing constant attention. One thing that really bothers me is our countries loss of technical talent–an entire generation, in my opinion. I do appreciate you reading my blog and hope you will be a “frequent flyer”.
Take care.
Bob
LikeLike
March 26, 2012 at 06:15
I really like it when I read an article that proves there are writers out there that can get their point across without confusing the topic. This is excellent work. http://www.samsung1080phdtv.net/
LikeLike
March 26, 2012 at 17:22
Thank you so much for your kind words. I really appreciate you taking a look at my blog and hope you will come back. I’m not a “natural” at this but really love to write so, hopefully, I will get better as time goes by.
Again, many thanks,
Bob
LikeLike
March 26, 2012 at 17:25
Hello Samsung,
Thank you so much for your kind words and I hope you will be a “freqnent flyer”. I generally don’t write about things I know nothing about. Helps keep me honest.
Again, many thanks,
Bob
LikeLike
March 14, 2012 at 23:36
Just desire to say your article is as astonishing. The clearness on your post is just great and i could think you’re a professional in this subject. Fine along with your permission allow me to grab your feed to stay up to date with drawing close post. Thank you a million and please carry on the gratifying work.
LikeLike
March 18, 2012 at 21:00
Thank you so much for the very kind words. I certainly am happy you enjoyed by blog. I love writing although as an engineer, I find it very difficult. Sometimes the words just don’t jump out at me. Again, many thanks,
Bob J.
LikeLike