Rebuilding the Pipeline: How Shop Classes Can Address the Skilled Labor Shortage

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the latest data shows 8.2 million job openings in the U.S. but only 7.2 million unemployed workers.^[1]

For years, industries from manufacturing and construction to specialized transport and rigging have struggled to fill these open jobs. Factors contributing to the crisis include:

• Turnover from an aging workforce
• Lack of new entrants to replace the wave of retirees
• Demanding nature of the work
• Lack of vocational training programs

The effects of this shortage are manifold. Without enough skilled labor, there is a reduced capacity for projects to get off the ground and those that do often experience operational delays. Employers face increased operational costs in the form of higher wages and OT just to retain workers. Safety issues become more prominent, as inexperienced workers can potentially lead to an increase in safety incidents.

While there is no single solution to solve the skilled labor shortage, there is a way to begin rebuilding the pipeline of qualified workers. It starts with bringing back shop class.

Where Did Shop Go?

Shop class (also sometimes called Career & Technical Education or Industrial Arts) used to be a normal part of high school curriculum. But over the past few decades, it began disappearing from student schedules. Reasons for its disappearance may be as simple as funding cuts or a school district’s budget constraints. More complex reasons may include a general societal shift, pushing college as the next best step in a student’s educational journey–and perceiving trade school as a “lesser” option, thereby stigmatizing it. Even federal laws, such as No Child Left Behind, may have contributed to the elimination of vocational training, as the focus centered on core academic subjects and standardized testing.

Predictably, the impact has been a decline in the number of students who pursue a skilled trade, leading to a lack of qualified workers for critically important jobs today.

Reintroducing Shop Class

In shop class, students learn relevant skills that directly connect to specialized transport and rigging. Shop teaches kids:

• Technical knowledge of mechanical systems, such as rigging equipment, types of machinery and basic engineering principles
• Mechanical aptitude, i.e. understanding machines and tools
• Math skills, such as estimates and measuring, in order to calculate load weights and distribution, as well as geometry to plan lifts and moves
• Physical ability, including hand-eye coordination and comfort working in odd or confined spaces or at height
• Safety skills, to understand and mitigate risk, as well as properly using and maintaining equipment
• Spatial awareness to mentally visualize and manipulate objects, and navigate through environments effectively
• Technology skills such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD), 3D modeling and printing, and basic robotics and automation coding
• Ability to work in a team toward a common goal
• Attention to detail

Perhaps most importantly, shop classes teach students critical thinking and problem solving skills. Far from being a “lesser” option than college, shop class prepares students for a well-paid vocation and a well-rounded life. Without shop classes, students simply don’t get the exposure that would foster their interest in pursuing a trade.

If You Build It, They Will Come

Bringing shop classes back to students can help reverse the labor shortage trend, although it won’t be a fast fix. This is why it’s critically important for specialized carrier and rigging businesses to get facetime with students. Industry involvement in local education can take many forms. Consider the following opportunities.

• School visits featuring a classroom talk sharing real-world experiences and demonstrations of specialized equipment
• Collaboration with educators to develop relevant, up-to-date course curriculum featuring current industry practices and technologies
• Apprenticeship programs that combine classroom learning with on-the-job training or job shadowing at local companies
• Field trip/site visits to give students a firsthand look at the industry in action
• Sponsorship of student projects related to specialized carrying and rigging
• Career fairs to showcase job opportunities in the industry
• Scholarships for students interested in pursuing relevant secondary education
• Serve on school advisory boards to help shape vocational programs

The return of shop classes is a win-win for students and industry, and ultimately, for society. But it will only happen if you get involved. Are you ready to rebuild the pipeline for skilled labor?

 

^[1] https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/understanding-americas-labor-shortage