Anecdotal information is meaningless. How many jobs are not being filled in metal working shops nationally? Are wages going up or down in this area?
Download the excel occupations spreadsheet from this report, Are There Really Jobs Americans Won’t Do? a detailed look at immigrant and native employment across occupations and let me know specifically of the 472 occupations listed where the shortages are by job code.
My territory covers 15 states in the Midwest. Finding mildly skilled labor is tough.