Alan Ross, Editor in Chief

Manufacturers across U.S. face a pressing challenge - a wave of experienced workers are nearing retirement, and too few candidates have the right skills ready to replace them. Transformer industry is no exception.

As many manufacturing jobs started vanishing in the 1990, people have been discouraged from seeking careers in manufacturing. Although factory employment has stabilized in recent years, the exodus of older, experienced workers continues, and new manufacturing workers are in great demand.

At a conference last week, one of the presenters mentioned a program he used to teach welding at his company, as welders were in such high demand and low supply. When I read the story about Northland Workforce Training Center, I was struck with how common it is that industry, and especially high energy use segments - continues to lose experienced 'boomers' without a sustainable strategy for replacement.

It is a tremendous problem in the US because we lack good apprenticeship or training programs.

A friend recently told me that he had convinced his son years ago that an English degree from a four-year college was not going to land him a well-paid, long term job. The son enrolled in a local technical school, earned a certificate in welding and now makes close to a six-figure salary. And he has no debt since a consortium of employers in the area paid for his training and apprenticeship.

So, great work Buffalo, Niagara Transformer and the Northland Training Center. You are making a huge difference for those who attend and for the employers who need them.