Posted on 06/21/2017 9:41:37 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
WARSAW, Ind. — Each day at Zimmer Biomet headquarters, machinists on one robot-assisted factory floor churn out about 3,000 metallic knee parts. They are facing pressure to crank up the pace as the population ages and demand soars.
But the artificial-bone giant is grappling with a steep downside of the nation’s low unemployment rate: It is struggling to find enough workers, despite offering some of the region’s best pay and benefits.
But without more people to grow Warsaw’s business, the chances of companies relocating is “extraordinarily high,” said Michael Hicks, a labor economist at Indiana’s Ball State University.
“That would devastate the area,” he said. “We need to figure out how to bridge this rural place to the future.”
Kosciusko is only one of 73 counties in the United States with unemployment rates of 2 percent or lower, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many are in energy-rich counties in the Midwest and Colorado, where the fracking and natural gas booms have vacuumed up the workforce.
They also include communities that defy the heartland stereotype of industrial decay — like Warsaw, in northern Indiana, and Columbus, about three hours south.Forty positions sit open.
Other manufacturers in Kosciusko County, home to roughly one-third of global orthopedic device production, are running into the same problem.
The lack of laborers not only threatens to stunt the growth of these companies, experts warn, but it could also force them to decamp their home town in search of workers.
With the U.S. unemployment rate at a 16-year low of 4.3 percent, employers across the country are dealing with a dearth of potential hires. Economists say that talent shortages are growing constraints on the country’s economic expansion, especially as millions of baby boomers enter retirement.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
This region — a land of clear lakes, duck farms and medical device makers — escaped the industrial decline that rocked other communities throughout the Rust Belt.
It prospered, thanks to a local industry that proved largely immune to competition from China and Mexico.
Damn Trump - he created too many jobs. He should be impeached /s
This is an attempt at justification of untrammeled immigration, legal or illegal.
They don’t even try to hide their agenda anymore, do they?
I don’t get it. On one hand we are told there’s still a jobs and employment issue. On the other we hear that jobs go unfilled because of low unemployment. Stories don’t jibe.
Can’t read this WashCompost article without accepting their ads. So the Compost’s slogan now is “Democracy Dies in Darkness”? I don’t need this dog food.
This guy Hicks writes for the Muncie (Ball State U. prof) StarPress local newspaper. He’s one of the reasons I unsubscribed from that news rag/mini-NYT.
I suspect his point is “We need more Joses/Mohammeds.”
Been there, done that Mike. Get bent.
from a wapo comment
LFBuz
8:49 AM PST
Read the comments of a local resident posted here: TM2286
11:01 AM EST
I grew up here and still live in the area. This article fails to mention this company hires almost all its jobs through a temp agency that pays $10- $14/hr...after 18mths if you do not get in a position, they terminate you. Also if you are with the company too long they fire you or let you go to save money....” Read before you judge.
... and this ...
Loden1111
5:06 AM PST
What the company wants and needs are machinists. That is a trade that takes a lot of time and commitment to enter. It is also a less than glorious occupation. We have had a shortage of skilled machinists for decades. One major difficulty is that when we enter a recession, factory machinists traditionally are among the highest paid workers and get laid off. When they do, the chain of training that brings younger apprentices up to speed is broken. That is also true in home building right now. During the housing collapse the chain of training in the skilled trades, such as electricians and plumbers, was broken. Now we have a shortage, but states generally demand a period of several years of apprenticeship and then journeyman training before becoming a master that can take on a job. I believe we need to create higher level skilled workers right out of a technical school, but that will require a change in laws.
Just wondering, what is the number of blacks living in Kosciusko County?
The jobs are in places people don’t want to go. Many would rather sit on the dole than live in a town like this.
$30/hr plus OT will bring all the workers they can handle.
And you can take that to the bank.
They’ll even have to start building houses, roads, schools and shopping districts for all of them.
I believe when the article states “highest wages in the region”, they are leaving out the part that means $18.50/hr with weak benefits.
Just keep the union traitors out...
“””It is struggling to find enough workers, despite offering some of the region’s best pay and benefits.””””
Why don’t they try attracting people from other areas with better than the regional pay and benefits?
The stories jibe just fine. Finding a potential employee who is literate drug free sane willing to show up everyday and work employee is nearly impossible. Then many of them must be lured off of some welfare scheme.
Probably because they will to be profitable.
Eventually there is going to have to be a reconciliation between the claim of no available workers and the supply/demand wage offer. Unless, of course, the real goal is the use of foreign workers. But as far as I can see, wages nearly everywhere have been flat, to the point of falling well behind inflation.
Something is broken.
RE: Just wondering, what is the number of blacks living in Kosciusko County?
From Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosciusko_County,_Indiana#Demographics
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 77,358 people, 29,197 households, and 20,740 families residing in the county.[17] The population density was 145.6 inhabitants per square mile (56.2/km2). There were 37,038 housing units at an average density of 69.7 per square mile (26.9/km2).[5]
The racial makeup of the county was 93.3% white, 0.8% Asian, 0.7% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 3.4% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.3% of the population.[17] In terms of ancestry, 33.5% were German, 11.5% were Irish, 10.8% were English, and 8.2% were American.
I’ll bet the average worker there makes around $15 an hour.
Bump it to $30 and see if you can attract people to the area.
This is an attempt at justification of untrammeled immigration...
People have moved to North Dakota from Florida to work. Happens all the time.
Fixed. No charge.
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