Good Help Wanted — And Needed

In January my column looked at the concerns expressed by some readers in our annual reader survey about the competitiveness of the U.S. Another popular refrain expressed by several readers was getting and retaining good electrical technicians. That concern is expressed across the trades.

Most of my professional journalistic life has been covering the hvacr industry. The concern about getting and retaining good hvacr technicians is a major concern in that industry as well. Another concern: well-trained technicians. That concern also transcends the trades industry. Not only is it hard to find employees who want a career in the trades, but it's also hard finding good workers who realize that to be a good worker they must continue their education.

Part of the problem is that too many high school counselors steer high school students to the four-year universities. Too many don't even give a thought that this particular kid may not be suited for the universities and better suited for a local technical school or community college. High schools also like to boast how many of their graduates are college bound — whether they should be college bound or not.

What is even more disturbing is that most high school graduates who go to a four-year university do not graduate! According to the Council for Aid to Education, less than 50 percent of U.S. college students entering four-year colleges or universities actually graduate. And, when you consider just how expensive it is to go to college, well in my book that is money down the drain.

There are lots of folks who are better working with their hands than they are sitting in an office. Not everyone is meant to be a marketing executive, an accountant, a lawyer or a salesperson. There are people who are geared to be electricians, mechanics, plumbers, hvacr technicians. The problem is getting them, keeping them and growing them.

One way to get them is for associations, contractor owners to participate in career days at high schools. It's also vital to meet with high school counselors and "shop" teachers, if possible. Help them to understand that there are teenagers who are meant to be in the trades, not college drop outs.

Keeping them also is important. As columnist Tom Grandy points out in this month's Contractor Corner on page 42, it's vital contractors pay their technicians a good wage and to provide benefits like health insurance and paid vacation time. He makes a compelling case and examines how you can do that, without costing you money or business.

Finally, growing your workers is important too. In the trades, it's vital that technicians continue their education. Technology changes. To remain competitive and successful, you must keep up with that technology. Again, Grandy notes that offering incentives — perhaps monetary — to continue their education is necessary.

I have a gut feeling there are folks out there who would rather work at a trade and make $25 an hour than they would working at a retail store for $10 an hour.