Skilled Trades Advocate

Skilled Trades Advocacy
The interests of manufacturing employees working in the skilled trades are not well respresented by elected representatives, economists or organized labor. The Federal Government has a history of supporting the interests of business over everyday citizens. Here you'll find links to important issues affecting the skilled trades and contact information for legislators and others of influence.

Skilled Trades Career and Employment Outlook. Immigration and Skilled Trades
The demand for CNC machinists, plumbers, electricians, and others in the construction trades continues to be strong. Employers report difficulties finding experienced candidates to fill openings.

Skilled Trades Education and apprenticeships
The Canadian government is doing an excellent job of providing real resouces to promote apprenticship and training programs in the skilled trades.. A Google search of the web returns many results posted by the Canadian goverrnment, but very little from the USA. The best advice to those wanting to get started in the skilled trades might be to move to Canada.

Job Search, resumes, and cover letters
Resumes are required for the skilled trades person in today's workplace. Turn one in with your application, post it on the internet, or give one to your firiend who works at the company you're interested in. You'll also find links to top internet job search sites and recruiters here.

Why Make a Career Change to Manufacturing

The U.S Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics describes job opportunities for skilled trades workers and CNC Machinists as "excellent" in the 2004-2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook. Median hourly income of all employees in this field was $16.75 in 2002. Click here to see the report. Highly skilled machinists capable of operating advanced computer controlled machine tools are in short supply, and many will be retiring over the coming decade. A synopsis of the current situation employers face in finding qualified skilled trade workers can be found in this article from Industry Week.

CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF WORKERS IN SKILLED TRADES

You may believe that it takes previous experience in the field to land one of these positions, but you'd be wrong! Given the right information and an understanding of the most important traits Personel Managers look for in applicants, nearly anybody can land an above average position in manufacturing. The report, "Starting a Skilled Trades Career in Manufacturing", identifies the best types of companies to target in your job search and the right paths to take you into a FINANCIALLY REWARDING and PRESIGIOUS position as a CNC operator/technician. Believe it or not, it's not just how well you do your job that determines your eventual success or failure. There's another "hidden factor" that's equally important. I'll tell you all about it and how to use this knowlege to your advantage in the report. This ten page document is filled with first person insights gained from my own fifteen years of experience as a real-life CNC machinist/lead person. This is not a CNC training manual, but rather a practical guide on how to position yourself to enter and advance in a technical field that offers a great future..

Starting a Skilled Trades Career in Manufacturing

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Not your typical employment guide, this earthy and practical report shows how to become employed in a skilled trades position in manufacturing without prior experience or training. I'll tell you how to target the right companies in your job search, what employers look for in entry level candidates and how to demonstrate the qualities that earn promotions. Wiith over fifteen years of real life experience in a variety of shop floor machinist positions, I've seen many people succeed in the skilled trades field, and I know this guide will be of great value to people changing careers, re-entering the workforce or starting a career after high school or college.

Report from the 2004-2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook
The U.S Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics describes job opportunities for CNC Machinists as "excellent" in the 2004-2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook. Median hourly income of all employees in this field was $16.75 in 2002

Working Class Elite
Lack of highly skilled workers creates a working class elite. Top wages and benefits go to CNC Swiss style lathe operators. From the Wall Street Journal.

Canada: The Skilled Tradespeople Shortage
The Candian Governmenrt revises standards to encourage immigration of skilled trades workers.

Wake Up Call: A Solution to the Skilled Trades Shortage
An article by Stephan Sharf calling for cooperation between unions and employers to apply a standard of knowlege and certify apprentices coming into the skilled trades.

Gone with the World
Dangers and disruptions of free trade, globalization, and offshoring.

Outsource Outrage
The quick fix for high domestic labor costs, manufacturing capacity shortages, excess inventory, and everthing else it seems. Fight back, armed with information from Outsource Outrage!

Workplace Bullying
The USA has laws to protect against harrassment based on sex, sexual orientation, race or religion, but you're on your own when targeted by the dreaded workplace bully
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Manufacturing Jobs in China on Decline, Service Jobs Increase
Modernization of factories casue job losses in China manufacturing facilities.

NAFTA's Cautionary Tale
An unbiased report from the Economic Policy Institute on how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has caused the displacement of production that supported 1,015,291 U.S. jobs.

Career Voyages
Possibly the most useful website from the US government Department of Labor for the skilled trades. You'll find links to a wealth of information including educational resources, employment outlooks, and individual employers participating in apprenticeship programs listed by state..

Skilled Trades Canada
Home page for Canada's excellent effort at providing resources and information on the skilled trades.

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