Manufacturers are hiring but report they are having a hard time finding the qualified workers they need.
One solution is a statewide effort to shed more light on manufacturers and available jobs/careers. To that end, five area manufacturers — in Brainerd, Crosby, Jenkins and Merrifield — are opening their doors to everyone on Oct. 27 and Saturday for a Tour of Manufacturing.
“We’re delighted to have people come and visit us so they have a perception of what we do and what manufacturing is all about,” said John Newhouse, Lakeland Mold Co. president. “Manufacturers in general need to get more people to understand the jobs in manufacturing are good jobs that require skills and expertise far and above what most people think.”
Lakeland Mold on Madison Street in Brainerd and Precision Tool Technologies on Wright Street in Brainerd are the two companies open to tours Thursday. Graphic Packaging International in Crosby, Pequot Tool and Manufacturing Inc. in Jenkins and Clow Stampingg Co. in Merrifield will be open for tours Saturday.
The prospect of good-paying jobs should be enough of a draw in and around Brainerd, which regularly posts the highest unemployment rate among large cities in the state. But the manufacturing community notes people may have outdated ideas of manufacturing jobs.
“We are in a hiring mode as are a number of other manufacturers in the vicinity,” Newhouse said. “Manufacturers are having a hard time finding the qualified people we need.”
Newhouse said he hopes the open houses create a more realistic perception and encourage young people to consider manufacturing careers.
Misconceptions may persist as people think of the “rust belt” when considering manufacturing jobs, Newhouse said. Perhaps they think the work environment is lacking or worry they’ll be glorified automatons in a thoughtless job.
Manufacturing is a good place for a good-paying job requiring specialized skills, Newhouse said. Work often involves computerized technology and Newhouse said there is a higher demand for worker involvement in the process.
Thursday and Saturday anyone who wants to tour the five manufacturers will get a chance to see the work environment for themselves. Preparation has gone from setting up tour guides to reserving parking.
“We welcome anybody and everybody,” Newhouse said. “We hope people take opportunity. We hope we’ll have a good turnout.”
High school and college students were encouraged to take advantage of the manufacturing tours as a way to discover high technology careers in the lakes area. Careers options include robotics and automation, welding, manual machinists and toolmakers, woodworking, computer-assisted design technicians, sales and product managers, quality assurance, mechanical and electrical engineers, assembly and shipping, finance and human resources, purchasing, and fabricators.
The Bridges Career Academies and Workplace Connection along with Central Lakes College collaborated to get the word out to students.
The open house idea was modeled after the “Parade of Homes” concept and is a state-wide event. Go online to http://www.tourofmanufacturingmn.com/ for more information.
Also, Central Lakes College, Staples Campus, will be available as part of the tour from 1-7 p.m. Friday.
Newhouse said: “We hope students, parents and just the general public are going to find it interesting enough to knock on our door and come in.”
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
Comments (21)
Add comment"Good Paying Jobs"
What companies in this area fail to recognize is there is a vast difference between their idea of a "good-paying job" and the reality of a "living-wage job". If they are offering "living-wage jobs", they should have no problem with people standing in line begging for the opportunity to become part of their work force.
good-paying and living wage
Ok here's the problem I see. There are good paying jobs in the area. The problem is people don't want them cause they will have to give up some little luxuries like eating out and going to the movies. I have a good paying job, but I had to budget to get it to that point. I don't eat out a lot, i don't go to the movies alot. I enjoy nights at home with my wife. People don't live within their means so they think they have to have a job that pays $16+ an hour starting wage. I'm sorry but I think you should start out at a slightly less of a wage and work your way up. Cut out all the little luxuries and you will find that you can live within your means.
The problem I see, is there
The problem I see, is there are a lot of people who don't have the specialized skills, can't afford to go to school to get the proper training and/or don't want to work. And yes, there really are people that don't want to work. I know I won't see them visiting these companies on Saturday. I'd enjoy working for any one of these businesses but I don't have the training to run their equipment, even though I have over 20 years in the computer field. I can't afford to go back to school, work full time and manage a household. Now, if one of these organizations would like a great worker who can learn the needed skills on the job and be a valuable asset, please let me know! I'll see you Saturday!
This is a great idea. I hope there is a strong turnout.
Some will always find something to complain about but the effort the companies are putting forth is to be commended. I hope everyone that participates will also thank them for being here and helping to broaden our economic base. I also hope our local elected officials take the time to visit these establishments and learn what they are doing. A vibrant community and it's institutions (schools, churches, clubs, retail and service businesses) needs a broad and stable economic base. Understand, these businesses could be anywhere but they choose to be here and it benefits all of us.
walleyeguy has the right idea and attitude!
and I commend him for being positive and being pro-community in his approach to life.
walleye
I too agree with you and I wish my plant had also joined the group. But army kid and berfunk are right; there are a lot of people who don't want to work or don't want to work for what they see as too little. I see new faces every week because some new hiree decided he could do better, or it was too dirty, or my favorite, it interferes with his social life. berfunk, you should go talk to the HR person at one of these places. Sometime they do train. Or go to a temp agency and see if they can match your skills to a job.
$16 an hour?
Boy you are thinking unrealistic. I work a job right now where my wage is $10 an hour, wanna know how i sustain myself? I LIVE WITHIN MY MEANS and i find other ways to entertain myself. Not everyone that works makes $16 an hour. I would like to make that, but thats not what God has planned for me. Live within your means. Both my spouse and i work full time jobs.
army_kid
"I live within my means"- Great point, 'nuff said...
Commendable
I think it's great that they are doing this. I don't think kids get exposed to this kind of work in school and only have some outdated idea of what manufacturing is about. This country needs! way more manufacturing. You can't export a cashier at starbucks. We need to make something in this country. Again, I commend these companies and know people that work there that make a good income. Much above your $10 mark.
Affordable wages for consumption works
And promotes commerce.
Putting your cash into a mattress does not enhance it's value.
Stale is that state. It does not produce any positive momentum.
The cycle of monetary spend/purchase and invest/profit is age old. That's hasn't changed for many years.
What has changed, is accumulation of wealth.
My third attempt at saying this...
The top 1 percent of wealth does not purchase nor consume any measurable amount of good or services for themselves.
If the top 1 percent puts that back into commerce and the consumption economy, it does produce results. And, the top 1 percent then does get a return on investment.
Prove me wrong.
Army Kid,
Ever have thoughts about getting married, raising a family, owning a home (or even a car), sending your kids to college... living a decent life? Good luck on $10 an hour. The masters of the universe (Koch Bros et al) love you! (if that's any consolation).
thoughts
Oh by the way I am married. I work 2 jobs, my wife works, and i am trying to start my own business. I'm working on paying off 2 cars, a house, and a couple of credit cards. I'm also in the middle of a transition between jobs. But don't mind the fact that I still get everything paid on time, haven't had a check bounce in a long long time. between all 3 jobs that are contributing to my household it equates up to about $17 an hour on an 80 hour pay period. Wanna know how i do it? I DON"T BUY STUFF that isn't a human need, yup i buy what i need to survive. Once my debts are paid off then i will think about buying wants. Or i save up money until i can buy what I want like that shiney new LCD TV.
Oh and by the way I don't think people should send their kids thru college. They won't learn the meaning of a dollar by doing that. I grew up in a household that had to work for everything i wanted. If i wanted a car i had to get a job and bike to work to save for not only my car but for my part of the insurance. If they want to go to college, i will help them find scholarships and get a decent job.
I think what is wrong with this society is people want as many hand outs "Daddy give me a car." "I want more free money" etc. Just cause a person doesn't make a lot of money doesn't mean they don't live decently.
Don't judge a book by its cover. Look at the whole picture and read the whole book. Yeah i wish i made more money at a $15 or $20 hour job but i know i will have to work for it to show any employer i have that I'm worth that wage. When i start a job i usually expect to be paid less, cause sometimes its a risk bringing someone new on board. Once they get to the point where they know I will be worth it let them raise my pay as they see fit. I live within my means so i don't stress the money. God will provide for the people who serve him.
Army Kid
Love your possitive attitude! Sincerely, I truly do.
However, I hope you can keep it shining when you've reached an age where you have: worked hard for over 30 years, raised your family, are looking forward to retirement, all while living within your means...Only to find yourself jobless and working harder for far less, with far less benefits, and employers who take advantage of knowing the job market stinks.
BrainerdMN
Boy i'm not sure if i should read part of that sarcastically or not.
I'm just trying to say that a person who is frugal with there money can build a savings account, live decently, and still live comfortably. Set a goal, work for the goal, serve God, and God will provide. If a person isn't wise with their money even if they made much more then i do they can live worse then i do. But if they realize that their income is a gift from God and they live that way, that person can be comfortable with any income.
Yes manufacturing jobs sometimes have some of the better incomes, but that doesn't mean that jobs like janitors or bank tellers or waitresses can't be comfortable and live happily. Money is not everything, yes it is nice to have, but it isn't everything.
No Sarcasm Intended
The economic world is one of greed. The ideology you have is commendable. My perspective is just another side to the issue. There are many deeply faithed, hard working, living within their means people who have been victimized by said greed. They've lost their retirements, have been aged out and deemed unhireable. The soup kitchen has seen a huge increase in families needing a meal. Food Shelfs across the country can't keep up with the demand. Local churches are helping to house the homeless. Those using these aids are not all lacking in faith. They are thankful and feel blessed to have these options. Many spent a great portion of their life working toward retirement security only to have it stolen from them... leaving them to work 2 or 3 jobs at minimum wage with bodies which have already been well used up by previous decades of labor...just to pay the bills.
25 Years Ago!
To make $8, $10, $12 or even $15 an hour was an okay wage "25 years ago." Gas was a dollar a gallon, milk was a dollar a gallon, a car was six or seven grand and a nice house was 50 grand and you paid nothing for benefits.
Employers now expect you to work for $7, $8 and $10 an hour when gas is near $4 a gallon, milk is over $4 a gallon, a car is 25 grand and rat holes for homes are 100, 200 and 300 grand. And then if you're lucky enough to get a poor paying job full time, you still have to pay for benefits.
Not only that, employers don't want to hire anyone without a 4 year degree, 5 years experience in that specific field and pay $8 an hour part time.
They resist help with on the job training, and usually there's little chance for advancement. More commonly they are watching you like a hawk waiting for you to screw up so they have a reason to dump you to get some other SCUB to take your place.
The only good paying jobs are working for the state, county, cities, law offices, executive or medical and you have to have the right last name to get them. I'd love to make $30 an hour driving around in circles destroying the roads salting them.
'Living wage' jobs around here do not exist. $16 an hour to start IS barely a near living wage.
Why do you think people are flocking to ND and living in their cars to get work? Because they are starting at McDonald's and Taco Bell part time at $15 an hour.
And by the way, a S.C.U.B. is 'Some Clearly Underpaid B**b!'
$10 an hour was an okay starting wage with benefits 25 years ago. Now it's just a really bad joke and we're not laughing.
Van
You are incorrect. I have a nice house for my first house, its a 1280sq ft single wide trailer, but guess what I have a 4 years left on my first mortgage. I have two nice used cars. Get real. you don't always have to buy a $200K house, a $25K car. Do your research and plan and you can get nice house for $120K and a car for $10K. And by the way i have a lax job where everyone including my managers included admit they mess up.
Don't have that stuff either!
Oh I did do my research and do not have the things mentioned. Live in a 800 sqft small house and have under $2k cars paid for. These were given as examples of the exorbitant cost of things and the lack of pay and jobs to back it up. And good for you having a lax job. A lot of us don't. And thanks for the snide remarks. They were certainly appreciated.
van
I wasn't being snide. I'm a person in my mid 20's. I served in Iraq, I saved my money, and i have learned to be diligent with my money. If a person searches for vehicles and houses and does a good budget its not hard to live on $37K a year between 2 incomes trust me i have done it and am doing and i live comfortably.