Like many industries in today’s economy, the trucking industry is not immune to the effects of the growing labor shortage for skilled workers. According to the Washington Post¹, young Americans are increasingly becoming disinterested in joining the trucking labor force, as fear of the imminence of self-driving trucks continues to permeate the industry. While such a reality may still be far into the future, the reality that exists today is this: There simply aren’t enough truck drivers to go around.

You know all about millennials. You understand that they make up the biggest portion of the workforce, that they expect more guidance and clearer paths for career development, that they’re impacting every industry from paper products to farming.

Manufacturing is no exception. The millennial generation is looking at the manufacturing industry in new ways and expecting it to learn new tricks.

Recently, the Labor Department shared exciting news about the US job market, boasting a 3.9% unemployment rate. An achievement certainly, but for many employers, the low unemployment means stiffer competition for their labor force. In the skilled trades industry particularly, this means employers must differentiate themselves to maintain a skilled workforce and talent pipeline, all while also combatting other workforce challenges related to the skills gap.

More Needs to be Done to Help the Working Class

When the Labor Department released its latest snapshot of the unemployment rate last week, most people sat up and took notice. It’s hard not to note that the unemployment rate of 3.9% is the lowest it has been since 2000, which is a sign that the job market has become even more competitive.

While that number is no doubt positive – as it marks the continuing improvement of the economy – it falls short for us as a cause to celebrate just yet. There remain too many people on the side lines of employment, and even among those working in the tightest labor market in a generation, many are still seeing small wage hikes.

On April 6^th, friends and families gathered to watch their loved ones reach a significant milestone in their lives, as Chicago CRED welcomed its newest group of 27 high school graduates. Twenty-six men and the program’s first female graduate walked across the stage to receive their high school diplomas, taking an important step in their journey to make a difference in their communities and create better lives for themselves and for their families.

The solar power industry is booming. Although legislative challenges still exist, the overall trajectory of the solar power industry is upward. Any company involved in residential or commercial electrical services or any power-related service should be keeping a sharp eye on this emergent industry.