Dirty Jobs, Tackles His Dirtiest Job of All — Closing the Skilled Labor Gap and Getting America Back to Work
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ƈƈĞƬ ƬƈƆƇƉƬľƬƬ AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET TO USA TODAY Craft professions Made in the USA The skills gap Know the skills How you can What it really means that pay the bills make an impact for Americans EMPLOYING AMERICA FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY SUBMIT A PHOTO OF YOUR FAVORITE MADE IN AMERICA PRODUCT FOR A EMPOWERING CHANCE TO WIN! AMERICA’S TRADESMEN Mike Rowe, TV Host of Discovery Channel’s MA ABA Dirty Jobs, tackles his dirtiest job of all — closing the skilled labor gap and getting America back to work. PHOTO: GO BUILDAL GO PHOTO: ƈƈĞƬ ĞƬƈƆƇƉƬľƬƬ 2 AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPLANET TO USA TODAY CHALLENGES There appears to be a surplus of jobs waiting to be filled and not enough people trained to fill them. Yet our employment rate continues to hover around 7.7 percent, and America’s jobless are becoming increasingly frustrated and scared. WE RECOMMEND President Meet what has become known as “the skills gap.” Bill Clinton on getting America back to work Reinvigorating the trades PAGE 4 irty Jobs is not tion on Dirty Jobs was seeing first- vigorate the trades. We need to con- EMPLOYING AMERICA, really a show hand the degree to which our coun- front the stigmas and stereotypes 1ST EDITION, MARCH 2013 about dirt. It’s a try has become disconnected from associated with skilled labor, and let Publisher: Laura Davis show about peo- skilled labor. Again and again, in all go of this absurd belief that a four- [email protected] ple, and over the 50 states, I’ve heard the same thing year degree is the only viable way to Business Developer: Janel Gallucci [email protected] years I’ve learned from hundreds of workers. They acquire useful knowledge. Lead Designer: Alana Giordano a lot from people all talk of a “disconnect” between Twelve million unemployed [email protected] that wake up clean and go home the work they do, and the society Americans is a scary thing. But Designer: Jonathan Zajdman D [email protected] dirty. I have learned for instance, that benefits from it. I think maybe three million available jobs that Managing Director: Luciana Culapinto [email protected] that a single fire ant can bite you they’re on to something. can’t be filled…well, that’s really Editorial Manager: Sara Quigley multiple times, especially in places Consider what we reward in our scary. Because that means we’re not [email protected] where a man does not wish to be culture today. Dancing with the dealing with a lack of opportunity. Contributors: Ashley Baker, Megan bitten. I’ve learned that widths Stars is still the number one show We’re dealing with a lack of desire. Battista, Bill Clinton, Stephen L. Hitch, Avery Hurt, Mike Rowe, Jill Smits, Curt are more hazardous than heights, on television. The Four Hour Work Weber, Donald E. Whyte and that short cuts lead to long Week is still a national bestseller. Share my concern Distributed within: delays. I’ve also learned that a good Vocational training classes have Skilled labor needs a PR campaign. USA Today, March 2013 plumber is now more expensive evaporated from our high schools, A big one. Because closing The This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve USA Today or its than a good shrink, and a lot harder and careers that don’t require a Skills Gap is not about creating Editorial Departments. to find. 4-year degree are now considered jobs. The jobs are already there. It’s FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER! This whole Skills Gap thing is real, “alternative.” We have actively dis- about us preserving our infrastruc- facebook.com/MediaplanetUSA twitter.com/MediaplanetUSA and it’s getting bigger every day. In couraged an entire generation of ture, expanding our manufactur- Mediaplanet’s business is to create new Alabama, half the skilled workforce students from working with their ing base, enhancing our ability to customers for our advertisers by providing is north of fifty, and retiring fast. For hands, and turned a whole category compete globally, and bolstering readers with high-quality editorial content every four workers that leave, only of viable careers into “vocational our national security. If you share that motivates them to act. one enters to replace them. And consolation prizes.” I hate to sound my addiction to paved roads, afford- Enter for your chance to win according to a 60 Minutes story last like a scold, but really, is it any won- able energy, cheap food, and indoor a K’nex 50 Model building set, month, there are now three million der that our kids aren’t lining up to plumbing, you should also share my valued at $34.99! Upload an skilled jobs that American compa- learn a useful skill? concern. image of your favorite nies simply cannot fill. Three mil- Because this whole Skills Gap MADE IN AMERICA lion. What’s up with that? Closing the gap thing is real. And the first step is a product on our Facebook page: The Skills Gap is not a mystery; it’s doozy. www.facebook.com/ Finding solutions a reflection of what we value. And if MediaplanetUSA Mike Rowe Ten lucky winners will receive I’m not qualified to offer a solution. we’re serious about closing the gap, Creator/Host, Dirty Jobs; their own K’nex 50 Model I’m just a TV Host. On cable. But I we need to reconnect with that part CEO, mikeroweWORKS MIKE ROWE Building Set! can tell you that my biggest revela- of our workforce. We need to rein- [email protected] Curt Weber Donald E. Whyte Stephen L. Hitch Ashley Baker VP of Marketing, President, Global Manager, Chairman, Board IRWIN Tools NCCER ThinkBIG American Workforce Caterpillar Inc Development Initiative, Go Build Question 1: Tradesmen are the backbone of Being a skilled craft professional Skilled Trades is where “it” all Put simply, skilled trade careers our great nation; they keep America provides limitless opportunity to comes together. A skilled trades offer big opportunity and big salaries. Why should running strong. They put a roof over build a rewarding future in one of person brings to life what Science, If you want to be in a field that is in someone consider our heads, make sure our lights stay the largest industries in the world. Technology, Engineering and demand, where the starting pay is bet- on, keep our water flowing, and so This industry allows an individual Math shows us is possible. Using ter than most post-college salaries and a career in the much more. Stable, well-paying to begin as a craft professional and critical hands-on experience and the prospect for growth is great, learn jobs are plentiful for skilled trades- advance to supervision, manage- knowledge, skilled trades literally a skill. That said, most of us are looking skilled trades? men as the nation’s recovery boosts ment and even company owner. The builds the world around us. From for more than a paycheck. We want a construction starts, remodeling opportunities are bound only by an our homes to highly advanced career that’s rewarding and meaning- and repair. individual’s ambition and motiva- construction equipment. Building, ful. What could be more meaningful tion. Troubleshooting, Repairing, and than building the cities of the future Maintaining for the future. or constructing the infrastructure that keeps America running? Frankly, our industry is not doing As the shortage of skilled workers In direct response to customer Go Build America was created Question 2: enough. So, IRWIN Tools initiated becomes more pronounced, owners needs, Caterpillar and our dealers specifically to address America’s What is your National Tradesmen Day on the 3rd and contractors continue to elevate created a network of educational growing skilled labor gap with a Friday of every September to cel- their commitment to supporting and partnerships at local training pro- focus on industrial and commer- industry doing ebrate America’s real working hands. implementing sustainable workforce grams granting Associates Degrees cial construction. Endorsed by the to help close the We hope that National Tradesmen development programs. Industry in Applied Science at 21 locations Construction Users Roundtable, Day will help our country develop a and education engagement is on in 10 countries. This global pro- Go Build partners with states for skilled labor gap? better appreciation for skilled trades- the rise delivering successful train- gram, known as ThinkBIG, focuses localized, integrated recruiting pro- men, leading to more people consid- ing programs at both the secondary on developing advanced dealer grams aimed at inspiring the next ering promising careers in skilled and post-secondary levels that offer technician graduates by utilizing generation of tradesmen to step up trades. industry-recognized and portable highly integrated learning and and build America. credentials. work internship rotations. Question 3: As tradesmen retire, jobs in Obtaining skills through edu- As a global company, we need It’s tough for young people to the skilled trades will be plentiful cation and training, especially skills that stretch across many think about the long-term impact of What is one since there’s only one qualified when tied to industry needs, is disciplines. Jobs in technical and their career choice. My advice would person available for every three essential in preparing for the skilled trade fields offer a reward- be to think about your earning and message you who retire. There are tremen- many career opportunities avail- ing career in terms of salary and growth potential over the span of would like to get dous entrepreneurial and busi- able.