In Search Of Workers, Connecticut Manufacturers Reach Into High Schools

The Hartford Courant ^ | June 4, 2018 | Stephen Singer

[2ndDivisionVet]

Connecticut manufacturers, looking to fill thousands of jobs, are reaching beyond community colleges and vocational schools to persuade high school students to embrace careers in 21st-century factories.

It’s not an easy task as educators and manufacturers battle stereotypes of old, dirty factories.

“The struggle has been getting the kids to see it,” said Mark Ruede, assistant principal at Manchester High School. “We definitely have some perception work to do in town.”

Manchester High School students have visited Pratt & Whitney in Middletown where the United Technologies Corp. subsidiary manufactures jet engines, he said. What began as a trip to teach engineering became a lesson in manufacturing, Ruede said....

[wmileo]

“Offer higher wages maybe someone will come off the welfare.”
That is a big step for most Welfare recipients.

[wmileo]

"I notice they are not looking for muslim refugees from 0bama’s plan."

Not unless they are looking for vandals and fire bugs for the insurance.

[CurlyDave]

My dad would tell me how you could quit one factory on a Tues and walk down the road and have a job on Thursday back in the early 70s.

I don't know about that. I finished graduate school in 1972, and with a freshly-minted Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering I got a job, but a lot of my peers graduating at the same time did not have any offers.

The late 70s were going pretty good for employment, but the mid 80s sucked bilge water. 90s and later were good, but not spectacular. Only had one period of unemployment, but stagnant salaries were common.

Right now is about as good as I have ever seen it in my lifetime, but I have been retired for 10 years.

[grania]

If they'd teach Economics in HS, the kids would be knocking down factory doors to avoid college they can't afford. There's a reason students aren't taught that debt is dumb.

(End of retired Math teacher rant)

[Mrs. Don-o]

“Get a Job” bump