[cableguymn]

well... as someone who briefly thought about hiring someone for my expanding business.. Thought so far along that I put out the help wanted sign electronically....

The quality of worker from over seas is likely MUCH better than what our government schools and hand out system are creating here..

after weeding through about 100 “applicants” emails and resumes..

I just deleted the rest and pulled the ad. If I can’t cover any more work. I’ll just start replacing my lower paying customers with ones willing to pay me more.

[Grams A]

I just went through the same scenario recently. Applicants have to pass a spelling test, correct the grammar and sentence structure in a simple paragraph, do simple math equations involving percentages without a calculator and be able to look at a listing of numbers and determine if the answer is reasonable or not. Still looking.

Couldn’t believe the applicants that would come by without a resume and dressed in short shorts and thongs for a semi-professional office job. First question too many asked was “How much does the job pay?”.

[Alberta's Child]

I was at a meeting in Tennessee last month with a client who said the same thing. Basically, this guy's entire industry has a crying need for competent, qualified welders -- and they can't get anyone to fill their open positions even though they are paying the highest wages for blue-collar workers in the region.

I'm not 100% on board with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on this one, but I would not be surprised if you heard the same stories repeated in other industries all over the U.S.

[Mr. Jeeves]

You put your finger on an important point that gets lost in this debate - we have a big shortage of literate, low-end workers and a vast oversupply of minimally qualified mid-level office workers. Thanks to public schools, the unemployable rate among entry level and manufacturing workers is through the roof - thanks to the Information Revolution, we have nothing for the literate former middle class office worker to do.