They mention multiple times the construction aspect of it, but you have to understand that these are not your typical factories. The amount of planning and design and engineering involved is incredible and it needs to get done before the physical building is erected. It’s still part of the “construction” process but it’s not pouring concrete or welding steel I beams. This is work that would be done by engineers and technicians, not construction workers.
Still, I can definitely see there being a hard time finding qualified workers because that is such a niche industry, but at the same time the company is doing itself absolutely no favors what with how it’s CEO has acted and said. In the end, I think at least some of this is just posturing because they probably want to ship in their Taiwanese workforce at much lower rates than Americans.
But I know for a fact it is getting tough finding technical people with any experience these days. We are in a similarish situation and we are having a heck of a time finding workers. And I know people won’t believe it, but it’s always the pay level.
I miswrote that last sentence. I know people won’t believe it, but it ISN’T about the pay. I KNOW we pay our people well. You just can’t find qualified employees. There is zero work ethic in a group of people out there. Showing up on time and actually showing up at all? That’s a foreign concept to some people. Basic skills - communicating with people, having basic understanding of how things are assembled or understanding how tools work.
This is especially bad when you can hire people in other countries to do the same work, pay them a fraction of US workers and you’ll get far better production out of them with far less headaches. It’s like WTF? We’re trying to reshore some production and in essence people are saying “nah, we don’t want it”. These same people would be the first to complain when they hear some product is made overseas.
Those people you’re talking about tend to be the loudest too in my experience.
It sounds like there’s something people just can’t get past to do the job you’re offering. My first response when someone says “no one wants to work!” is to finish that with “for what you want to pay them” but you say the wage is good. Maybe it’s your cologne? Or your chairs are uncomfortable?
IDK your personal experience, but it’s almost always the pay. Possibly you’re just matching the pay other companies offer, and the industry doesn’t pay much in the U.S. comparable to trades that require equal training, so there aren’t many workers that go into that trade. Or, the labor market is extremely tight for that trade.
I was in a similar circumstance, and was able to find quality candidates by raising what we were offering considerably (+30-50% above regional average, according to sites like glassdoor). We were able to attract very good employees away from their previous employers this way. But, these were more “professional” jobs, and sounds like you’re looking for “lower-skilled” technicians, which may have different subtleties. Another option is apprenticeship-like arrangements (on-the-job training + paying for technical school), depending on the industry/trade.
If people don’t care to have work ethic, show up on time, etc, it’s usually because they feel like they’re being shafted, and have horrible, non-inspiring management, so they feel they owe the company nothing. If people feel like they’re working for a company, instead of with a company that’s helping them “self-actualize” or whatever, you get the “companies pay just enough so their workers don’t quit, employees work just hard enough to not get fired,” attitude.
You can pay these people 3x what the position is worth and you still won’t get someone that actually shows up and has some of the basic skills needed. There’s always some excuse or increasingly these days, it’s almost always some scheme to get free money. And the word “scheme” perfectly fits the situation here what either all the connotation that word comes with.
Literally watched a YT video the other day of some guy traveling around Appalachia and visiting coal country and his experience interviewing some of the people there was eye opening and very similar to what we were seeing with a whole generation devoid of a work ethic and trying ways to exploit the system for freebies. Doesn’t matter what your position is paying, free money will always win.
It’s not particularly clear.
They mention multiple times the construction aspect of it, but you have to understand that these are not your typical factories. The amount of planning and design and engineering involved is incredible and it needs to get done before the physical building is erected. It’s still part of the “construction” process but it’s not pouring concrete or welding steel I beams. This is work that would be done by engineers and technicians, not construction workers.
Still, I can definitely see there being a hard time finding qualified workers because that is such a niche industry, but at the same time the company is doing itself absolutely no favors what with how it’s CEO has acted and said. In the end, I think at least some of this is just posturing because they probably want to ship in their Taiwanese workforce at much lower rates than Americans.
But I know for a fact it is getting tough finding technical people with any experience these days. We are in a similarish situation and we are having a heck of a time finding workers. And I know people won’t believe it, but it’s always the pay level.
I’m curious about the last part, do the workers expect higher pay?
I miswrote that last sentence. I know people won’t believe it, but it ISN’T about the pay. I KNOW we pay our people well. You just can’t find qualified employees. There is zero work ethic in a group of people out there. Showing up on time and actually showing up at all? That’s a foreign concept to some people. Basic skills - communicating with people, having basic understanding of how things are assembled or understanding how tools work.
This is especially bad when you can hire people in other countries to do the same work, pay them a fraction of US workers and you’ll get far better production out of them with far less headaches. It’s like WTF? We’re trying to reshore some production and in essence people are saying “nah, we don’t want it”. These same people would be the first to complain when they hear some product is made overseas.
Those people you’re talking about tend to be the loudest too in my experience.
It sounds like there’s something people just can’t get past to do the job you’re offering. My first response when someone says “no one wants to work!” is to finish that with “for what you want to pay them” but you say the wage is good. Maybe it’s your cologne? Or your chairs are uncomfortable?
Or maybe there is a whole group of people out there with zero work ethic because in the past they’ve been given everything.
No maybes about it!
IDK your personal experience, but it’s almost always the pay. Possibly you’re just matching the pay other companies offer, and the industry doesn’t pay much in the U.S. comparable to trades that require equal training, so there aren’t many workers that go into that trade. Or, the labor market is extremely tight for that trade.
I was in a similar circumstance, and was able to find quality candidates by raising what we were offering considerably (+30-50% above regional average, according to sites like glassdoor). We were able to attract very good employees away from their previous employers this way. But, these were more “professional” jobs, and sounds like you’re looking for “lower-skilled” technicians, which may have different subtleties. Another option is apprenticeship-like arrangements (on-the-job training + paying for technical school), depending on the industry/trade.
If people don’t care to have work ethic, show up on time, etc, it’s usually because they feel like they’re being shafted, and have horrible, non-inspiring management, so they feel they owe the company nothing. If people feel like they’re working for a company, instead of with a company that’s helping them “self-actualize” or whatever, you get the “companies pay just enough so their workers don’t quit, employees work just hard enough to not get fired,” attitude.
You can pay these people 3x what the position is worth and you still won’t get someone that actually shows up and has some of the basic skills needed. There’s always some excuse or increasingly these days, it’s almost always some scheme to get free money. And the word “scheme” perfectly fits the situation here what either all the connotation that word comes with.
Literally watched a YT video the other day of some guy traveling around Appalachia and visiting coal country and his experience interviewing some of the people there was eye opening and very similar to what we were seeing with a whole generation devoid of a work ethic and trying ways to exploit the system for freebies. Doesn’t matter what your position is paying, free money will always win.