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Home | News | Maryland is expected to face skilled worker shortage

Maryland is expected to face a shortage of workers to fill jobs requiring more than a high school diploma but less than a college degree, according to The Baltimore Sun. The biggest portion of job openings in Maryland during the next several years reportedly will be in this category.

The Washington, D.C.-based National Skills Coalition, a worker training advocacy group, reports the so-called "middle skill" jobs—such as electricians, mechanics and construction industry workers—will account for 42 percent of all openings by 2016. The coalition projects more than 434,000 job openings in the middle skill category.

Almost half of the jobs in Maryland are middle skill jobs, but about one-third of Maryland workers likely have the minimum credentials to fill them. This issue is present in other states, as well.

"Even as the job numbers get worse, the situation continues—there still are employers looking for people to fill jobs," says Jessie Hogg Leslie, a senior regional field director for the National Skills Coalition. "Even in states that have high-skilled jobs, about half the jobs still are middle skill."

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-Md.) is expected to announce plans to help workers navigate a network of available training programs and funding.

"More jobs are requiring certificates, credentials or degrees," says Eric Seleznow, executive director of the Governor's Workforce Investment Board. "We want people to go get credentials, get a skill. When the economy starts to rebound, there will be more of these jobs that require skills."

The National Skills Coalition suggests Maryland give residents access to at least two years of education or training beyond high school—such as community college, private career schools or apprenticeship programs—that will lead to a vocational credential or industry certification.

The shortage issue is not a new problem for the construction industry, which has struggled with worker shortages for years. An increase in trained workers would be valuable for the industry.

"When the economy bounces back, the construction industry will need not just workers but workers with particular skills and certifications," says Martin Knott, president of Knott Mechanical, Timonium, Md.

Many of the jobs created by federal stimulus funds will be in middle skill jobs such as construction, manufacturing and transportation.

The National Skills Coalition report states: "Matching the skills of the state's work force with this demand will help the economy recover more quickly, take advantage of the resulting job creation and prepare Maryland for better times ahead."

3/8/2010

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