Are 'Construction Worker Shortages' Impacting Integrators Too?

Could the younger work force use it as a stepping stone for their first job?  And, could salary be a reason?

I obviously can't speak for all young people, and I suppose I don't fully classify as young anymore, I am now 28, but started in this industry 12 years ago when I was 16 as a monitoring center operator.

It's hard, I still enjoy what I do in this industry, but I think I'm starting to reach the peak of what I can accomplish, without having to move to another area. Granted I am in a rather low population area in the center of canada, but still. I'm reaching the point where maybe I should look at another industry, but worry everything I've done in the last 12 years will be of no use. I have no certifications, no college degrees or anything other than work experience. I have my specialty limited electrical license, but hell most security company in the area don't even really care about that, unless the electrical inspector comes snooping around.

I have a few manufacturer certifications, but most of them become void when you leave the company you acquired them through, which I have. I've only recently (last three years or so) been doing more IT related thing, but even that has been minimal. I am making decent money right now, but it's a weird niche job that really only exists, in my area, at the company I currently work for. And it's boring. Sooo boring.

Back to the switching, so even if I look at it from some one who actually wants to get into this industry, how do you start? Around here it seemed to be expected techs are to know everything. Very little specialization. Gotta know how to run cable, fish cable, terminate cables, mount and install intrusion devices, card access devices, cameras, servers. Program intrusion systems (and not just one manufacturer), access control software, manage switches, VMS's. While also trying to keep on top of what part of the electrical code is the inspector suddenly going to decide applies to me this time, but didn't at the last job.

Now sure, I haven't worked for every company in my area, but the ones I have worked for, I am not exaggerating that much. Generally I am not having to know how to program multiple card access systems and VMS', limited to maybe three tops. And mostly that's just due to legacy stuff. But again, how do you get started in that? There aren't any college courses I can take. Sure I could do like a pre-placement electrical thing, and maybe a quick, short IT course but there are still some differences, and from what I've seen with pre-placement electrical, they don't talk about low voltage very much.

It is definitely impacting us.  I work for a IBEW firm so compensation seems likely to not be the issue... most of the techs that report to me end up taking home more than I do (due to OT and DT) with better benefits.  Our techs are aging and the replacements coming from the union are slim.

i believe that trades are looked down upon the same way a “burger flipping” job is.  They are actually quite decent paying careers and one of the few places pensions still exist.  There is a stigma attached to physical work it seems.

Is it me, or am I getting really critical of others? 

I've been working for the same company in NJ for over a decade and it feels like I've seen more turnover in the last 12 months than ever before.  Entry level laborers have income expectations of skilled tradesmen and the concepts of humility, pride, and work ethic seem to be inversely tied to the rise of social media and mobile accessibility.

Yes, the shortages do impact our industry.  Certainly they do.  We all hire from the same pool.  But some of the remarks I have seen here are not related to the booming economy.  Today's younger workforce shortages really is related to some degree to the worker's expectations.  This is going to sound like a rant, and I apologize for that, but there is truth in the belief that younger workers have vastly different expectations and we as owners and managers are going to have to deal with it.  

I will give you a quick example that should scare the hell out of you.  Here in NC, we have roughly 2500 licensed electricians total, regardless of classification.  Of that 2500, less than 50 are under the age of 40 and the average age is 57.  That is a staggering number.  Somewhere, we have failed our youth.  We have created a society that does not see the value of skilled manual labor.  From electricians to carpenters to farmers to barbers, we look down on skilled labor and that is just wrong-headed.  The various Licensing boards here see the shortages and the problems we are all going to have because of them, but they are plain dumbfounded about what to do.  

I have an electrical contractor friend that I partner with on larger jobs.  They typically provide skilled electrical rough-in for very large projects.  They have for years.  They are no longer able to meet all of our demands in large part because today's skilled labor force is well compensated and they don't have the same view of overtime that the workforce once did (which is probably two different things).  Yesterday's workers needed overtime.  They had bills and college to plan for.  Today's workers want to spend more time with their families and expect college to be free.  You can't give them overtime.  Some of that is due in part to the booming economy, but certainly not all of it.  

I could go on for hours about this issue.  I have spent the better part of a year talking directly to today's youth about a great many things and ladies and gentlemen, I am here to tell you their expectations for their futures do not match ours and they cannot be convinced otherwise.  For better and worse, it will be a different world very soon. 

Would creating classes solve the problem?  I don't think so.  Creating classes for people who won't attend is a waste of precious resources. 

Very quickly, today's new workforce wants to be compensated well, have a seat at the table and have their voices heard.  They understand they have to be a little patient, but that patience has a limit.  At the same time, they expect their employers to help foot the cost of education and their allegiances are thin.  Statistics clearly indicate today's youth are beginning to opt out of traditional post-graduate careers due in large part to the cost of education, but at the same time, most don't see the value. 

Market forces will eventually help to fix some of the labor shortages and Companies will be left to fix the rest, but in the meantime, we are going to be left with a lot of very unhappy, transient workers. 

NOTICE: This comment has been moved to its own discussion: We Have Created A Society That Does Not See The Value Of Skilled Manual Labor.