Posted on 06/28/2018 8:37:43 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
HHI may be downsizing its shipyards, but not HII. Virginia-based Huntington Ingalls Industries says that over the next five years, its yard at Newport News will need 7,000 new shipbuilders to work on subs and warships for the U.S. Navy, including 2,000 net new positions.
HII's Newport News Naval Shipyard needs to recruit enough people to meet its workforce demands for the Ford-class aircraft carrier and Virginia-class submarine programs. The new hires will also support production of Columbia-class ballistic submarines, increased submarine fleet support work and the refueling, overhaul and defueling of Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.
The overall hiring need is so acute that the governor of Virginia is lending his assistance to the recruitment effort.
“Newport News Shipbuilding’s success is important not just for Hampton Roads, but for the entire commonwealth,” said Virginia Governor Ralph Northam in a statement Thursday. “Therefore, it is critical that we support growth of this magnitude with an innovative partnership between state agencies that will address the company’s workforce and training needs and ensure a pipeline of skilled talent."
The shortage of radiological control technicians - employees trained in monitoring and performing work with radioactive material - is especially critical, according to the local Daily Press. According to a Naval Sea Systems Command draft report viewed by the paper, “the potential shortfall in critical nuclear resources [manpower] is a significant problem that impacts the shipyard’s ability to complete nuclear work today, and could impact successful delivery of ships to the Navy if not adequately addressed."
In addition to the hiring initiative, Newport News says that it is retraining employees to incorporate new digital technology, and is continuing to make capital investments in the company’s facilities and technology infrastructure.
HII is the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S., and it has built more American naval vessels in more classes than any other firm. Its Newport News yard is the only builder of the nation's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
I had a drink on Mr Ingall’s yacht way back in the 50s-——I had forgotten all about it until I saw this.
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He was visiting Martha’s Vineyard.
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“Virginia-based Huntington Ingalls Industries says that over the next five years, its yard at Newport News will need 7,000 new shipbuilders to work on subs and warships for the U.S. Navy, including 2,000 net new positions. “
It’s like the early 80’s all over again!
Make America Strong Again
Then, consider the ripple effects, and this is a major, and thoroughly positive, financial impact.
Help wanted signs?
Good things.
Very, very good things.
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Taxpayer-funded jobs for new employees who need to be taught welding and soldering.
Newport News ship building has what they claim to be the world’s largest vocational training center. They partner with a couple of local community colleges to flesh out the Degree of Education that they provide. It’s really quite astounding.
Where I live a (number of miles north of there), just about everybody I know has at one time or another in their life worked down at the yards. Hard work, but it is steady work and although the hours are long and the commute is often by a subscriber bus service, the benefits could balance out if the individual is looking for that type of a lifestyle.
There is no such thing as a labor shortage, only a wage shortage.
Drug testing eliminates about 40% of the population.
Do you want druggies welding SSBN hulls?
Absolutely not. But in a 4% UE world finding that many new employees is going to be very difficult. I have been trying to hire four people for over a year. They either don’t like shift work or can’t pass the drug test. UE in my area is 3.9%.
Booo hooo. PAY MORE.
We pay well above the regional scale and have for years. Every employer in my area has signs and banners out for “help wanted”. At this UE you are literally recycling the trash.
So many job openings, so few applicants.
Or rather ... so many good jobs going beggingwith so many able-bodied layabouts sucking on the gummint teat.
Sounds like time for welfare reform, ya think? At least a deep audit of all “entitlement” programs, with an eye toward eliminating them.
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