German Giant Says US Workers Lack Skills (Siemens)

Financial Times/CNBC ^ | 6/20/11

[markomalley]

A mismatch in the US labour market between the skills of unemployed people and the jobs available is making it hard for some companies to find the right staff despite an unemployment rate of more than 9 percent, one of the country’s largest manufacturing employers has warned.

Eric Spiegel, chief executive in the US for Siemens, the German engineering group, said the problem exposed weaknesses in education and training in the US. Siemens had been forced to use more than 30 recruiters and hire staff from other companies to find the workers it needed for its expansion plans, even amid an unemployment rate of 9.1 percent

“There’s a mismatch between the jobs that are available, at least in our portfolio, and the people that we see out there,” Mr Spiegel told the Financial Times. “There is a shortage (of workers with the right skills.)”

He said Siemens was having to invest in education and training to meet its staffing needs, including apprenticeship programmes of the kind it uses in Germany.

His comments, made before Tim Geithner, the Treasury secretary, visits a Siemens plant in Ohio on Monday, suggest better education and training could help reduce the persistently high US unemployment rate.

[SaraJohnson]

The labor force is now dominated by immigrants, most illegal, who are good at breaking the law and cutting grass.

I guess Siemens does not need an over abundance of grass trimmers who speak spanish and are proud of their race and loyal to foreign country?

When boomers totally leave the workforce...

[SVTCobra03]

“It is amazing to me how someone can spend a semester in a college level class, pass it, and know nothing about the subject.”

Why go to vocational school and have to work hard around noisy, hot machines when you can go to college where you can drink and party and hook up with sorority girls? Do I really need a sarcasm tag?

[Mr. Jeeves]

We lead the world in percentage of people who think they are qualified.

[steve8714]

Why don’t they hire our Art History or Communications grads for their plants?

[central_va]

Maybe you should read the link, I happen to respect Milton Friedman's opinions:

Imports during 1929 were only 4.2% of the United States' GNP and exports were only 5.0%. Monetarists such as Milton Friedman who emphasize the central role of the money supply in causing the depression, downplay the Smoot-Hawley's effect on the entire U.S. economy.[20

Another free trade lie, quit propagating BS.

[Dead Corpse]

Are you sure you read what you thought you read? Friedman is a free trade advocate.

And I quote, "Today, as always, there is much support for tariffs--euphemistically labeled 'protection,' a good label for a bad cause. "

Get your story straight.

[central_va]

Here is the story. The unions are dead. There is no reason to have unrestricted trade if the reason is to break the unions. Union membership is at 6%. During the 1930's ALL trade was less than 5% of the ENTIRE GDP. So either way smoot-hawley had no impact on the duration or depth of the depression. It is a red herring argument and totally irrelevant. There are 22 right to work states were non union workers can produce product at a profit.

[Dead Corpse]

The unions are dead.

Unions run the State I live in. The Democrat Farm Labor mafia has a stranglehold on everything that happens here. Do you really think Dayton got elected because he's likable or a good choice? No. Because the DFL Unions went to bat for him.

Same for Detroit. California. Etc...

The reason for free trade is freedom. Period. Anything less is Statist bullsh*t.

[familyop]

"That is the result of FEDGOV domination of education."

According to the employers, taxpayers aren't providing enough education through big government.

[central_va]

Well I don't live in a state run by unions, I hear you though Northern Va is overrun by federal union workers which is a different problem. You cannot make national policy, such as free trade, based on the communist state that YOU live in. Tariffs protect the NON UNION worker more so than the union worker.

I would prefer secession, where the right to work states could form there own country, but that will never happen.

You can disagree with me but free traitor are in denial for this situation is unsustainable and will end up with a totally socialist weak USSA. Free traitors are the most myopic, selfish cynical bastards that this country has ever produced.

[markomalley]

According to the employers, taxpayers aren't providing enough education through big government.

I'm sure these same employers are the ones who are backing Obamacare because it will cut their fringe benefit costs dramatically.

[MontaniSemperLiberi]

Thank you.

[familyop]

True, and well said.

[Incorrigible]

Nice summary

[Dead Corpse]

http://www.hoover.org/publications/hoover-digest/article/7125

[Straight Vermonter]

Yeah, why the complaint about US workers when he says they have to train those in Germany as well?

[Straight Vermonter]

Do you use the existing FR add-ons for Firefox? I'd love a ping when you have your add-ons ready.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Not news.