• Survey
  • Book Becky to speak
  • The book: Small Town Rules
  • Shop Local video
  • SaveYour.Town

Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource

A row of small town shops
  • Front Page
  • Latest stories
  • About
  • Guided Tour
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • RSS

Rural jobs shortage is really a skills shortage

By Becky McCray

One of the great economic development columns published today is BOTTOM LINE by Charles Lawton, in the Maine Today business section. Recently, he wrote, Maine doesn’t have a jobs problem; we have a skills problem.

He points to the increasing competition for skilled workers. Even in economically depressed areas, certain industries are begging for qualified people. Think about construction, nursing, truck driving (especially haz mat), and specialty manufacturing.

So why do we have skill shortages? Why aren’t people investing in themselves?

The reason, I think, is twofold. First, we misunderstand our changing economy.
…
In short, we need to make the labor market work better by bringing more direct information about the skills needed in the business world into our educational institutions.

The second reason for skill shortages lies less with the education sector and more with the business sector. Just as the conventional wisdom “you have to go to college to get ahead” misses important aspects of the real world of manufacturing, so the conventional wisdom that “but I offer competitive wages” misses important aspects of worker motivation.
…
In short, just as schools must improve their knowledge of the actual job skills required in the business world, so too must businesses improve their knowledge of the career paths available to their employees. The 19th-century model of human “help” as a mechanistic part of the assembly process no longer applies in Maine.
…
Business success and employee career growth are increasingly intertwined. The businesses that recognize this fact will both attract the skills they need and grow their companies in ways they don’t yet understand.

Treat yourself. Read the whole article.

small biz rural entrepreneurship job skills workforce development

New to SmallBizSurvival.com? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Subscribe.

  • About the Author
  • Latest Posts

About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
  • Zoom Towns: attracting and supporting remote workers in rural small towns - December 10, 2020
  • In an economic crisis, spend your brainpower before your dollars - November 25, 2020
  • Video: How to fill empty car dealership buildings for the holidays - November 6, 2020
  • How has 2020 changed the challenges rural small towns face? Tell us here - October 20, 2020
  • The Idea Friendly Method to surviving a business crisis - October 6, 2020
  • Join me for the Rural Renewal Symposium online Oct 13 - September 26, 2020
  • Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals - September 11, 2020
  • Refilling the rural business pipeline - July 7, 2020
  • Huge vacant buildings: grants to renovate? - June 9, 2020
  • Economic self defense for small towns  - June 7, 2020

June 15, 2006 Filed Under: economic development, rural, workforce

Wondering what is and is not allowed in the comments?
Or how to get a nifty photo beside your name?
Check our commenting policy.
Use your real name, not a business name.


Don't see the comment form?
Comments are automatically closed on older posts, but you can send me your comment via this contact form and I'll add it manually for you. Thanks!

Trackbacks

  1. Tight workforce problem and possible solutions says:
    May 2, 2013 at 3:48 am

    […] I don’t have any quick-fix solutions, but here are two important points, adapted from Charles Lawton. […]

Howdy!

Glad you dropped in to the rural and small town business blog, established in 2006.

We want you to feel at home, so please take our guided tour.

Meet our authors on the About page.

Have something to say? You can give us a holler on the contact form.

If you would like permission to re-use an article you've read here, please make a Reprint Request.

Want to search our past articles? Catch up with the latest stories? Browse through the categories? All the good stuff is on the Front Page.

Shop Local

Buy local buttonReady to set up a shop local campaign in your small town? You'll need a guide who understands how we're different and what really works: Shop Local Campaigns for Small Towns.

Best of Small Biz Survival

What is holding us back? Why does every project take so long in small towns?

How any business can be part of downtown events by going mobile

Concert-goers talking and enjoying the evening in downtown Webster City, Iowa.

Why do people say there’s nothing to do here then not come to our concerts?

Retailers: Fill all empty space, floor to ceiling

More of the best of Small Biz Survival

Copyright © 2021 Becky McCray
Front Page · Log in