i really don't think the lack of union strength is the root cause of this problem. first i think we should have proof that the there is an abundance of these jobs not being filled. not to disrespect the ancetodal evidence given in this thread. the original article isn't about union electrician jobs or what not. the original article is about a lack of basic math and maybe even reading skills. that's something that falls into one union's hands, teachers.
I don't think the lack of union strength is the root cause of this problem either, but the conversation headed in that direction and that became the topic of debate. As far as the lack of math skills and such, I'd say much of that falls on parents of school kids. We've gone so long with this idea that nothing is as important as a kid's self-esteem that we've essentially assured kids that they should never have to do anything difficult that could meet with failure - and math is difficult. I think that aspect of the problem is far more cultural than it is economic.
I don't think it is a "root cause," either, but it's contributed to the decline of a skilled American workforce, one that can have a middle class life, at least in my opinion. If there is a root cause, it is inadequate funding for education, IMO.
The government came in with OSHA and did more for worker's safety than unions ever did. I don't see why on the job training has to be the sole privilege of the group that handles the collective bargaining of the workers.
I don't think anyone has said that here, but you've certainly railed against the idea over and over again anyway.
Of course it is. Anyone who doesn't want, or is incapable of getting a 4 year degree is not given any attention by our education system and is made to feel like a loser. Adding tiers to our public education system adds options and goals for more students to realistically reach for.
And Sammy wonders why I call him a moron. LMAO. Since people started having inklings of knowledge of other parts of the world, there have been quite a few changes in "cultural centres." You've had the Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Islamic Scholars. The Italians had their turn, then the French. Then the Industrial Revolution happened and it was fashionable to be English. And now the Americans. Funny isn't it? How it always seem to follow where the money goes? America is just the latest flavour in that regard. Skill? You either have them or you don't. With them, the worst you could do is emigrate. With "culture," well I suppose it's equally good asking "would you like fries with that" in many countries.
yeah, I have to say I somewhat agree with that after watching Jersey Shore and Micheal Bay films. ...though I guess I still watch :/
Probably because they're dumb and poorly thought out, that's why. First, what company in their right would want to compete with the government and its free labor force in this case on providing services to the public? Not only that, what customer in their right mind is going to prefer hiring a bunch of high school kids over an experiend professional regardless of what the price might be? I mean let's take your brand new car over to the high school and have Bobby and Timmy train on your car instead of taking it to a certified professional. Second of all, what highly skilled employee would prefer to work as an underpaid teacher in a public school dealing with children than working as a professional for a company in that field earning what their peers would earn? Seriously? Are you going to scour retirees to find teachers, because they will surely be up to date on current industry practices and they love being around teenagers all day. Third, you're really going to invest all of this money trying to train children who can't read and write and can't find the United States on a map? That they're uneducated and poorly prepared for life really doesn't matter as long as they have a career, right? It's not about society as a whole but rather how quickly we can fill the jobs quota for the private sector. There are so many problems with something like you're proposing that you sound like Mitt Romney or something. In reality, the problem is much larger than simply not having skilled enough workers for any field. Education as a whole is screwed up and this is reflected in all parts of society, not just the labor force.
All my friends with technical degrees have no problem finding jobs. It is those with sociology, English, fine arts, etc. that are constantly looking for work. I can't really blame anyone for this. An expert in English literature or arts from centuries ago is just no much use. Just comparing the engineering curriculum at UCLA to your average liberal arts degree tells you a lot about what majors actually teach you to think critically. The problem is as much cultural as anything else. I saw a scary documentary about Chinese kids a few months ago. It seems like the best students are actually respected by their peers there - as opposed to being marginalized as nerds, etc.
That's part of the problem with education. It goes along with technical school for people who aren't going to college. Ideally college shouldn't even be about getting a job as much as it is about getting an education. Getting a good education should make you more desirable to employers.
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There are plenty of educated who are unemployed in this country.I am tired of these CEOs saying there is a lack of qualified talent. I would venture to say most jobs a person with an average aptitude could do with a month of training.
Given that both 1. you live here in an H1Beaver wigwam, spouting your netizenry on the Houston Rockets message board, rather than a Shanghai Sharks or the Lanzhou Fragrant Muskrats or whatever, and 2. are profoundly unfunny (except when trying not to be...) because 3. you would not know what a sense of humor even if it declared you a manchurian protectorate and pillaged you repeatedly... ....I consider you exhibit 1 of my argument. I rest my case.
On a related topic I was talking to someone who is a third year architecture student at a school where they still have a Bachelors or Architecture (a dying degree as most places just offer a Bachelors of Arts with a major in architecture). I noticed a huge difference in what she was studying versus what the students at the U of MN getting a BA in Architecture are studying. She is taking classes where she has to do structural calculations and design HVAC systems while many of the BA students don't even know how to measure a building.
wait, clutchfans and clutchfans humor is a demonstration of superior American culture? oh s***, we're even more screwed then I thought
To give a little perspective how these aprrenticeship programs work in Germany: the programs start for people who are 15 or 16 years old and they last 3 years. Apprentices spent half the time in the company they work for and the other half at a state-run public school. During this time, the apprentices earn comparatively little, maybe 600 - 800 €/month.
The Medical profession has good apprenticeship/technichal school program. You have to pay for a 2 year program that you actually get paid (lowly, but paid) for your on the job training. They train their students in very specific skills needed for that field. The days of having a 4 year degree, majoring in English and land a job just because of that degree has long passed us by. Candidates having a specialized skill have a leg up. The trend could always reverse but that's where we are now. And the disturbing trend is that these jobs/tasks that require these skills are being outsourced for pennies on the dollar to workforces who are just as well trained if not even more trained and qualified.
