The meat industry needs people who can build and maintain equipment. Recently I was driving in the Midwest and saw a billboard advertising for industrial mechanics for a large meat packer. Another plant engineer told me on the phone that they are having a difficult time finding good millwrights to build new equipment and work on plant renovation projects. One of the reasons this shortage is occurring is that the older maintenance people are retiring and not enough qualified young people are available to replace them. A major cause of this shortage is that many high schools no longer offer classes in skilled trades such as welding, auto mechanics and other trades. Students need exposure to different careers in order to develop an interest. They are not going to get interested in mechanics or welding if they are never exposed to it.
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