Global skilled-trades shortage could stymie growth

Manpower Inc. chairman and CEO Jeffery A. Joerres.

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Skilled-trades positions such as electricians and plumbers are among the hardest to fill in the world, according to latest research from Manpower Inc. of the US, which surveyed 35,000 employers across 36 countries and territories.

In a new ‘World of Work Insight Paper’ entitled ‘Strategic Migration – a Short-Term Solution to the Skilled Trades Shortage,’ Manpower warns that, as the global economy recovers, it is necessary to implement strategic migration policies in order to create a mobile workforce and plug the gap of skilled workers.

The lack of skilled blue-collar workers could impede the progress of infrastructure projects and inhibit national growth – such as transportation in India and power in Brazil, for example. It is a problem that national governments must address for the long-term to foster economic health and fuel business growth. In the meantime, increasing the mobility of these workers can help ease the talent shortage.

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“As the global recovery gathers pace, cultivating future talent and alleviating the shortage of skilled workers is becoming vital to ensure economic growth,” said Manpower Inc. chairman and CEO Jeffery A. Joerres.

“With unemployment high around the world, migration is an emotive subject, but strategic migration will be necessary to create a global workforce and alleviate the current shortage. Countries should be developing policies which facilitate positive migration to fuel economic growth through providing skilled workers where they are needed, rather than creating barriers to immigration,” said Joerres.

Shortages of skilled workers are acute in many of the world’s biggest economies, including the US, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Brazil, where employers ranked skilled trades as their number one or number two hiring challenge, according to Manpower’s 2010 Talent Shortage Survey.

“Inadequate training and negative stereotypes relating to skilled trades are further fuelling a dangerous shortage of skilled workers,” added Joerres. “Employers and governments need to bring honour back to the skilled trades. They must look ahead to forecast their future skill demands in this area and start working to alleviate this now.

“Unemployment levels remain high across the globe, particularly among young people, and providing training programmes while working to promote skilled trades as a viable career choice could open up these jobs to a wider talent pool, as well as helping businesses tackle their shortages effectively and sustainably,” said Joerres.