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Skilled trade workers are still in short supply

Nov 6, 2024
The Fed's Beige Book reports shortages in industries including technology, manufacturing and construction.
Project manager Stephen Sasa works on updating the dining patio of a Portland, Oregon, restaurant. Sasa says journeyman carpenters who work with him make $40 to $50 an hour, plus benefits.
Mitchell Hartman/Marketplace

Where are all the construction tradeswomen?

Aug 17, 2021
Despite steady progress toward gender equality in other fields, women still make up only a small percentage of construction workers.
Melissa Delgado, left, and Rebecca Gollnick-Starr practice the proper way to hand off a hammer on a jobsite. Both are in the pre-apprenticeship program at Women In Non Traditional Employment Roles.
Jill Replogle

There's a mismatch between jobs that are open and workers searching

Jun 4, 2021
Some unemployed workers may need new skills and training for jobs that are in high demand.
Sectors like manufacturing and logistics are booming, and employers say they desperately need new workers.
Alexander Koerner/Getty Images

Commercial construction faces a rocky year but skilled workers are still needed

Apr 20, 2021
Study shows commercial construction employment is still down about 5% from before the pandemic.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images

One company president says he's in the middle of a "skilled-worker bidding war"

Jan 28, 2020
In this tight labor market, wages are going up in the barge business.
A worker at Cannelton Locks on the Ohio River in 2016.
Courtesy Melody Golding

Companies say they want more skilled workers. What's a "skilled worker?"

Dec 19, 2019
Well, it depends on what sort of job is looking for them.
Woodworkers fall into the skilled workers category.
Romain Lafabregue/AFP via Getty Images

Changes touted to make H-1B visa applications easier

Mar 22, 2019
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service this week announced some changes to the visa program for highly-skilled foreigners who fill U.S. jobs in technology, science, engineering and other fields. These changes are supposed to make the process of applying for H-1B work permits easier.  Click the audio player above to hear the full story.
Triple the number of applicants applied for the H1-B visa program last year. Chances of getting your application picked were only about one in three.
John Moore/Getty Images

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Georgia embraces Germany’s apprenticeship model

Jan 26, 2018
Manufacturers are worried they will not have enough skilled workers in the future, so they have started to create apprenticeship programs to train high school students.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College received funding to open a new Advanced Manufacturing Center in Covington. It includes five labs for training in machine tools, electronics, mechanics, automation and process control, as well as industrial wiring and motor controls.
Tasnim Shamma/ for Marketplace

My Economy: Making close to six figures as an intern

May 15, 2017
As a PhD student, David Kuhns found an "internship" that matched his skills.
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images

Los Angeles is still the largest manufacturing hub in the country, but it lacks a skilled labor force

Oct 28, 2016
Goldbrecht Systems USA makes over-sized windows and advanced sliding glass doors in Culver City, CA.
Goldbrecht Systems USA employee Sonny Gonzalez prepares to cut a sheet of glass.
Daisy Palacios/Marketplace