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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE


Unfortunately, the Fifth Avenue marketing giants have never made a plumber, carpenter, welder, and vehicle technician sexy or appealing to the masses. For years, fancy office jobs with people wearing high fashion at work have made up the bulk of what people view on TV and in advertisements. It probably had to do with selling high fashion. After all, Carhart, Levis, Wranglers, and Cintas aren’t as glamorous as Hugo Boss, Versace, Calvin Klein, and Polo. The stigma of being called a “grease monkey” has long endured and probably has caused parents and others like educational professionals and guidance counselors to look at the trades as less attractive careers. Today’s vehicle technicians, welders, plumbers, electricians, and numerous other tradesmen can be very sophisticated and professional, but not all parents and schools recognize these as noble professions. When I was in high school, the only way you were offered Vocational training was if you had a behavioral problem or were flunking out of regular school. Some of the brightest and most intelligent kids were sent to VoTech because of this reason. They were Baby Boomers, and this helped to supply hardworking intelligent people into the trades.


The cooling systems and diesel emissions industries are not alone when it comes to a technician shortage. Currently due to outside influences, almost all businesses are looking for workers. This trend is an anomaly caused by a once in a lifetime event, the pandemic. The issues I’ve described are not related to the pandemic, but the pandemic has definitely amplified an already existing problem in today’s blue collar skilled workforce.


Our labor force shortage has roots which go back decades when college and


universities became big business and needed to promote their importance and sustain their growth. There is definitely a need for higher education, but the pendulum has swung so far that we have been left with a shortage of skilled blue collar workers. The people are out there. Our population is always increasing, but for some reason the need for blue collar technicians outpaces the availability and overall population increase. It is evident the cooling systems and diesel emissions industries are not alone when it comes to a technician shortage. Every trade is experiencing a deficiency of qualified labor. Heat exchanger repair may even be at a greater disadvantage than some other industries since there isn’t formal training offered in public and private vocational/ technical schools.


When the employment landscape is surveyed and studied the cooling systems and diesel emissions industries may very well be choices never even considered by millennials or Gen Z. Even though there are people in these generations who are capable, they may never learn about careers in our field because of the lack of promotion and education.


Recruiting Top Talent


So what can you do to try to fill those job openings you have in your growing


organization? First, it would be prudent to put yourself in the shoes of those young people who might be considering a career in any trade. I use the term “trade” to apply to any job that requires skills typically performed with your hands and brain. For our businesses to be successful, a key ingredient is to have problem- solvers as part of the staff. Having good eye hand coordination and being able to accomplish certain manual tasks is only part of the necessary skill set. The trades need problem solvers and people who can manage unexpected situations.


All growing organizations need additional people to staff expanding operations. Some jobs will be easier to fill than others, but the important jobs are those that produce service dollars in an operation. People who can actually produce work and provide a finished product or service to the consumer are invaluable to a company. The companies who can recruit and keep new effective talent will be most successful. One way to impress any customer is with great services and products. When you have a good work force your service will stand out among the competition.


When thinking about your company and challenges with attracting and recruiting skilled workers, do you realize who or what the competition is? In college


September/October 2021 | THE COOLING JOURNAL | 31


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