Manufacturers report a lack of trained pro's - particularly welders

It's a little confusing out there.

You hear that manufacturing is fleeing the United States, and it is, but you also see increasing reports that certain skilled jobs (like welders) are in such demand that manufacturers in certain areas can't hire enough of them.

According to the Des Moines Business Journal, for instance, by the middle of next year, one Iowa manufacturer expects to lose 90 of its 420 production workers to retirement. Another manufacturer which employs 150 people in a small community says it “would hire more employees tomorrow if they were available.”

Training has been requested for trades such as lean manufacturing training, management-supervisory training, welding, geometric tolerancing, computer manufacturing and safety training.