Industries have become complacent with the abundance of skilled people in the Detroit and surrounding area. Because of the mass retirement incentives and attrition the older mentors in the trades can't pass on their skills and knowledge to the younger workers. And the use of "plug and play" equipment(delivered ready to run) means the younger people don't get construction, installation or even troubleshooting experience. Formal training is great but informal training is invaluable and the push to hurry the job because of the thin margins don't help. I can't tell you what the solution is but the result is lost knowledge and opportunities.

I agree that more and better training possibilities should exist in our trade. If someone wants to enter the electrical field or any of the skilled trades the training needs to begin in high school and should be encouraged instead of being looked down upon. However I take great issue with something in the letter, the "looming skilled labor shortage". I have been an electrician for 36 years and have been hearing this for at least 10 years and it hasn't happened yet, nor do I think it will. Here in the Detroit area we have thousands of electricians out of work. Many of the older electricians that have been described as being ready to retire soon won't be able to because of being unemployed or underemployed for the last few years. Nationwide the construction field has one of the highest levels of unemployment and underemployment. Whenever there is a shortage of workers in a field the law of supply and demand takes over. Wages go up and people scramble to enter the field because of the higher wages. This situation existed locally in the teaching field, a major shortage was predicted and people were encouraged to enter the teaching profession, good luck finding work here as a teacher! I am beginning to think the same thing is going to happen to nursing. Mike, keep up the great work and your efforts of helping all of the instructors out there. Hank

One of the problems, IMHO, is the industry itself. After 40 years in the construction side, I went to work as a E&I Tech. for a refinery. Looking back, I can see where the money was great but the rest of a compensation package was extremely lacking. there was only a minimal attempt to provide medical, disability, or retirement benefits. There was almost no money allotted for any type of continuing education. The work was seasonal resulting in a feast or famine scenario.

As long as projects are awarded to the lowest bidder instead of the most qualified or best bid, contractors will continue to man jobs the cheapest way possible.

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