[know.your.why]

A skilled labor in a location where there is a glut of that skill will definitely suffer from depressed wages.

The fact is that there is not a glut of skill here. There are help wanted signs all over here just like in most areas. Why would you assume that there are either more workers than jobs here or plenty of workers available to fill the jobs. Just google CNC machinist Huntsville and take a look for yourself. Its not just here. Look at CNC jobs all over the country. Skilled machinist used to command a way above average pay and that has gone way down. Its a shame really. Theres no reason for a kid to get into this trade skill at a technical college.

[Mogger]

Skilled machinist used to command a way above average pay and that has gone way down. Its a shame really. There's no reason for a kid to get into this trade skill at a technical college.

Exactly. Before I retired, I drove 2 hours a day one way for 25 years to a high paying job troubleshooting and repairing CNC machines.

In my local area, pay for CNC machinists and electro mechanical technicians is depressed because the business owners collude with one another to keep wages low.

Their HR people tell the workers, that's what the going wage is here.

Then they wonder why they can't find people.