On some occasions I have mentioned that companies that need blue-collar workers are in a tough spot. Their jobs are not very sexy to the millennial or Gen Z workforces who prefer tech jobs. Also, because lifetime wages are significantly higher for jobs that require a bachelor’s degree, parents and high school students tend to have a much more favorable attitude towards going to college than training in a vocation, which is reflected in college application statistics. We are currently in the midst of low unemployment which makes recruitment for blue collar jobs even more difficult.
Companies should think about this as a long-term, rather than an immediate, issue. This article talks about how some firms are dipping into high schools to begin identifying students who might not desire (or be qualified for) 4 additional years of school and providing them with what used to be called vocational training.
Of course, if a specific company or industry designs the career education programs (read: vocational), there is a danger of the training being too narrow. However, no public school in its right mind would ever turn down private money that helps kids get jobs. And we don’t seem to have a problem with it at the college level where business schools take money (and input) from big employers and provide the students with internships.
The economy goes in cycles and it is not a matter of if, but when, the economy slows and there won’t be the same worker shortage. However, the trend towards more interest in college and tech jobs will continue for the foreseeable future. This means that employers of skilled, but not college educated, workers will have to find more ways to create a larger labor pool to find the talent they need. They can do this by:
- Aligning with local high schools and community colleges to create curriculum that is broad enough that provides students with career options, but specific enough to allow for an easy transfer from school to the employer.
- Gauge the interests of students as they enter the program. Interest inventories are an under-utilized selection tool. This is especially true for entry level employees. If I’m not interested in social activities, I probably should not be on the wait staff at a restaurant, even if I need the money. But, if I’d rather work with things than people, then becoming a welder might be up my alley. Validating these types of tests can be a good way to predict potential success by placing students in areas where they are more likely to do well.
- Provide lifetime learning programs. One thing we know about millennials and Gen Z is that rewarding them for learning is a powerful incentive. Companies should show new recruits all of the opportunities they could potentially have, not just the ones in their trade.
Companies that need skilled blue-collar workers can no longer passively expect a deep talent pool to be available. Rather, they should take action to identify and develop potential employees. This will require partnerships, better pre-employment screening, and having developmental programs. It may not solve the immediate problem, but it will ensure that they have the necessary talent in the future.