{"id":8623,"date":"2012-05-18T11:00:45","date_gmt":"2012-05-18T15:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/?p=8623"},"modified":"2013-07-31T12:06:13","modified_gmt":"2013-07-31T16:06:13","slug":"qa-why-theres-more-to-the-skills-gap-than-a-worker-shortage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2012\/05\/18\/qa-why-theres-more-to-the-skills-gap-than-a-worker-shortage\/","title":{"rendered":"Q&A: Why There’s More To The “Skills Gap” Than A Worker Shortage"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Amanda Loder \/ StateImpact new Hampshire<\/p>

Advanced manufacturing work is often highly-skilled and detail-oriented<\/p><\/div>\n

Ramping-up federal funding for highly skilled, computerized advanced manufacturing<\/a> training at community colleges is a key part of President Obama’s jobs initiative.\u00a0 In a recent budget proposal<\/a>, he pushed for creating an $8 billion Community College to Career fund.\u00a0 Among other things, it would increase training for advanced manufacturing.\u00a0 That sits well with a number of large companies, who say there are up to 600,000 jobs available on factory floors right now, but not enough qualified workers to fill them.<\/p>\n

New Hampshire’s trying to change that.\u00a0 With the help of a $20 million federal grant<\/a>, the state’s Community College System<\/a> is working on creating an integrated curriculum<\/a> by working with advanced manufacturers across the state.<\/p>\n

In a story that aired on NHPR<\/a>, I looked into this so-called “skills gap,” and why it’s a lot more complicated than a shortage of qualified workers.\u00a0 Following that feature, I spoke with Morning Edition host Rick Ganley about why there’s some skepticism about taxpayers funding corporate training through community colleges.<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q: You touched on this in your story, but just remind us: Why does this skills gap problem matter for the state as a whole?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Manufacturing is the largest economic sector in New Hampshire, and it tends to pay better than average.\u00a0 It really is the state\u2019s economic engine.\u00a0 And at the end of the day, if companies can\u2019t get the skilled workers they need, they\u2019ll leave New Hampshire and go where they can find a bigger labor pool.<\/p>\n

Q: Your story mentioned several times that GE Aviation<\/a> in Hooksett is really struggling to find workers\u2026why aren\u2019t they hiring these community college grads?\u00a0 Is this a typical issue for factories?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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