http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/manufacturing-jobs-go...

An article in today's Post Dispatch reports that skilled jobs in manufacturing go unfilled these days, even though people are unemployed. Even programs for training have vacancies.

Parents and presumably high school councilors seem to have a bias against manufacturing jobs--presumably in response to claims that manufacturing in America is going overseas. But the jobs that remain require training. This article mentions machinists. I have heard there are shortages of welders.

It seems we need to reorient thinking.

Another article in the same issue reprinted from the Chicago Tribune notes that entry level employees at Caterpillar (in Peoria, IL) are paid at levels that are no longer middle class. $15.57/hr. But that is not enough for the lifestyle (boats and vacation homes) once enjoyed by the auto industry and other manufacturing jobs. Some now barely make ends meet or need to work overtime. Or . . . But those are unskilled jobs. Training gets you better pay.