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Employer Quotes

The quotes below are from employers in this industry: Manufacturing

They are talking about this topic: Workforce Trends & Challenges

 

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The quotes below are about this issue:
Overall, many employers find it difficult to attract quality entry-level applicants; this is particularly true in the areas of welding/fabrication, system automation technology, and machine technology.

Employer Quote Region
"And we're losing people to the west—to Dakota. They're looking for welding programs just to supply welders out west." Northwest
"For us, sheet technology is what we need." Northwest
"Sheet technology and welding is what we need." Northwest
"I recruited once for a manual machinist, and I did not get a single applicant. I had a lot of people come in and say, 'Well, I used to do manual machining, but I'm a CNC now.' But that's just a stepping stone back into the CNC department." Northwest
"Let's just say turnover is killing us. They need to come every day, on time. And the other piece that kills us is that they want to work, they need a job, but they haven't done mechanical work before. So, while they may be really hungry to work, some just don't have the mechanical aptitude to do the job even though they want to. It's got to be all the legs on that stool." Northwest
"Some of the things we see—we don't hire too many welders—but when we do, we rarely see a recent grad or someone who has a certificate. Most of the time, seven out of the ten that apply are backyard welders. They'll come in, and they don't pass the test." Northwest
"We, too, have a lot of applicants who are backyard welders. And sometimes it's difficult to tell them that, 'The way you're welding isn't the right way, follow the lead's example.' The response is, 'I know how to weld; I've been doing it for 20 years.'" Northwest
"We went to a statewide competition. And one of the companies that was there wanted 200 welders. They were actually pulling people off the street saying, 'We will teach you how to weld. If you go through our program, we will pay you $9.50 an hour to learn this. And, if you pass, we will guarantee you a job.' So, they're really getting desperate in some of these areas." Northwest
"Your data suggests that the supply for welders is exceeding the demand at this point. In the last four weeks, we have made four tours—and 245 welders are needed or wanted." Northwest
"It seems like automated controls and those types of things are in high demand." Northwest
"And the demand expands into the electronic design and things, not only the operation of them, but the design of them and the building and maintenance of them, too. Not just the people that are operating them because, while they can do the basic maintenance, it is the higher level of program and maintenance that there seems to be a real void in also." Northwest
"There's a demand for welding and fabrication. We're all struggling to get welders. And we've recently gone through a training session ourselves with colleges, and it is really helpful. But there is definitely a high demand for those folks." Northwest
"Welding is one area that we have really struggled in as well in terms of finding and hiring. We've hired a lot direct off-the-street from some of the local colleges. But that is one thing we're really focusing on right now. Another respondent and I are working on a more defined training program—even to train our internals—because we've had a hard time finding externals to come in with the skills. So, we're kind of honing the skills that we have, and starting to do a more comprehensive training on-site. All of our hires right now seem to be—definitely more of a majority that we're pulling external. We've kind of saturated our market, but with orientations and stuff like that it seems that there are more and more from out of the area." Northwest
"Another thing that we're seeing that is going on is the welding fabrication. One company is big on this, and they're starting to move into the high schools to try and fill that demand." Northwest
"A lot of us are in very remote, rural areas. On a local level, we need people, and we can't fill these spots. So, I would say there's a greater demand here in the very rural areas." Northwest
"Right now—if you look at distribution work and where technology is going—the systems that we put in and use require system automation. They require industrial maintenance folks to do the skilled electronics environment, and control engineers, and maybe even the technicians. But the thing is, if you look at what is going on in the industry right now for distribution, we're fulfilling around the world. They actually take individuals, 20 to 25 individuals every year, and intern them for two to three years—and pay for them to learn this—because it is such a current skill. We're working right now to design a new building and new system, and we'll require probably 15 individuals that have some sort of technology certification or experience just to keep those systems running. Those are critical skills. But I don't know if the educational system can really help us get those skills. A lot of it is on-the-job experience, but it is a definite critical need for distribution and fulfillment more and more because it is becoming so automated for us." Northwest
"We hired probably a dozen electronic technicians from the outside, and we have six to twelve going through an internal full-scholarship program at [MnSCU college]. They get paid to go to class, and then—when they actually become electronic technicians—they earn about six more dollars an hour. So, electronics and maintenance is really our bread and butter. But automated systems would be our number one need though." Northwest
"It seems like we need about two drafters a year and that could increase because they do tend to slide up more into the engineering. Like another employer mentioned, there's not a clearly defined line that 'this is what the engineer does' and 'this is what the drafters do.' They have to work in coordination." Northwest
"Production technology is the number one area that we're needing to fill right now." Northwest
"Employer 1: There's a lot of competition for candidates in various areas.

Employer 2: We share back and forth.

Employer 1: We steal back and forth."		 Northwest