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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (103652)	3/8/2005 10:44:06 AM
From: Volsi Mimir	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793800

Skilled factory workers lacking Manufacturers say candidates don't have aptitude By WILL EDWARDS BLOOMBERG NEWS U.S. manufacturers are having trouble finding skilled workers for a growing number of vacancies, according to an annual poll by the National Association of Manufacturers. Forty percent of the 976 member companies that responded to the economic outlook survey said they planned to add workers this year, up from 31 percent a year ago. More than a third -- 36 percent -- said they have positions unfilled because of a lack of qualified people, the Washington-based group reported yesterday. "This confirms what our members have been telling us in recent years -- that the people applying for manufacturing jobs today simply do not have the math, science and technological aptitude they need to work in modern manufacturing," John Engler, president of the association and former Michigan governor, said in a statement. The labor shortages occur amid increased optimism about exports and industry's contribution to the economic expansion. Manufacturing grew for a 21st straight month in February, after being slow to rebound from the 2001 recession, and factory employment rose last month for the first time since August, according to reports issued last week. "Manufacturing has been through a tough patch in recent years, but we have turned the corner," John Luke Jr., chief executive of MeadWestvaco Corp., the forest products company, and chairman of the manufacturing association, said in a statement. Two-thirds of the companies predicted that they would grow at least as fast as the economy in general this year. Part of that optimism hinges on a rosier outlook for exports. Three-fourths of companies in the survey expect shipments abroad to stay at current levels or increase this year.