Here in the southern reaches of Puget Sound I see signs advertising for CDL truck drivers at two different businesses, a large sign saying “Bricklayers Wanted $55 per hour”, our local sawmill is hiring, commercial shellfish farms need people, the Bremerton Naval Shipyard has been looking for 800+ apprentices for over a year, so things are looking pretty good in our blue collar rural area.
In central Virginia plants are having a hard time finding qualified tradesmen. Many young people can pass aptitude for training but can’t pass drug test or background check. I was told that on the East Coast for every 5 leaving the fields like pipe-fitters, welders, etc. only one is coming in.