Latest news with #bluecollar
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe warns as fear grips on US workforce
Mike Rowe, the former host of Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs, sounded the alarm on the nation's shortage of blue collar workers in the face of emerging technology. Speaking at the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, Rowe suggested that trade-based jobs may be the solution to the artificial-intelligence driven jobs apocalypse. 'We've been telling kids for 15 years to code. "Learn to code," we said,' he told audience members. 'Yeah, well AI is coming for the coders.' It is not, however, 'coming for the welders... the plumbers, the steamfitters or the pipefitters' or even 'the electricians' as these industries face major labor shortages. Rowe even claimed that BlackRock CEO Larry Fink once told him the nation needs 500,000 more electricians over the next few years. 'Not a week goes by that the Blue Forge Alliance, who oversees our maritime industrial base - that's 15,000 individual companies who are collectively charged with building and delivering nuclear-powered subs to the Navy ... calls and says "We're having a hell of a time finding tradespeople. Can you help?" 'I said, "I don't know man... how many do you need?" He says 140,000,' Rowe recounted, telling audience members how there is an urgent need for at least 80,000 technicians right now. 'These are our submarines,' he emphasized. 'Things go hypersonic, a little sideways with China, Taiwan, our aircraft carriers are no longer the point of the spear. They're vulnerable. Our submarines matter, and these guys have a pinch point because they can't find welders and electricians to get them built.' Rowe went on to say that the automotive industry is in need of 80,000 collision repair and technicians, while the energy sector needs somewhere between 300,000 to 500,000 more employees. Manufacturers are also having trouble finding workers, with about 400,000 jobs currently unfilled, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 'That's the underlying thing that I hope people really take from this conference,' he said, adding: 'There is a clear and present freak out going on right now. I've heard from six governors over the last six months. I've heard from the heads of major companies. It's like a memo went out and people are realizing, "You know something, we need to tend to this."' Rowe then concluded his speech by telling 'young men and women in this state that a bright future awaits if they... learn a skill that's in demand. 'That's going to resonate politically, that's going to resonate practically. It's gonna move the needle,' he vowed. Rowe's speech comes just weeks after the New York Times reported on manufacturers' concerns attracting and retaining workers. It noted that some companies need to use specialized equipment that requires employees to have extensive training and familiarity with the software - which is becoming increasingly harder to find as fewer young people attend vocational school. 'For every 20 job postings that we have, there is one qualified applicant right now,' lamented David Gitlin, chairman and chief executive of Carrier Global - which produces air conditioners and furnaces. But his job will likely see a growth in demand with the rise of artificial intelligence, as the massive data centers are built with cooling systems called chillers. In total, Gitlin estimates that each AI data center would require four technicians to maintain a single chiller. And as these data centers grow, more and more white-collar workers may soon find themselves without a job. Earlier this month, Ford Motors CEO Jim Farley even predicted that artificial intelligence will ' replace literally half of all white-collar workers in the US.' 'AI will leave a lot of white-collar people behind,' he told Walter Isaacson at the Aspen Ideas Festival, shortly after Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced future workforce cuts were likely as the company continues to implement AI in its operations. More recently, it was announced that Indeed and Glassdoor, the hiring and public HR platforms that have transparently connected employers with online applicants, will replace six percent of its staff with AI. Most of Indeed and Glassdoor's layoffs are expected to hit US workers, particularly in research and development, HR, and sustainability teams, according to an internal memo obtained by Indeed CEO Hisayuki 'Deko' Idekoba said the cuts include some leadership shakeups. He wrote in an email to staff that 'AI is changing the world.' 'We must adapt by ensuring our product delivers truly great experiences for job seekers and employers,' he added.
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe sounds alarm about his fear gripping backbone of America's workforce
Mike Rowe, the former host of Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs, sounded the alarm on the nation's shortage of blue collar workers in the face of emerging technology. Speaking at the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, Rowe suggested that trade-based jobs may be the solution to the artificial-intelligence driven jobs apocalypse. 'We've been telling kids for 15 years to code. "Learn to code," we said,' he told audience members. 'Yeah, well AI is coming for the coders.' It is not, however, 'coming for the welders... the plumbers, the steamfitters or the pipefitters' or even 'the electricians' as these industries face major labor shortages. Rowe even claimed that BlackRock CEO Larry Fink once told him the nation needs 500,000 more electricians over the next few years. 'Not a week goes by that the Blue Forge Alliance, who oversees our maritime industrial base - that's 15,000 individual companies who are collectively charged with building and delivering nuclear-powered subs to the Navy ... calls and says "We're having a hell of a time finding tradespeople. Can you help?" 'I said, "I don't know man... how many do you need?" He says 140,000,' Rowe recounted, telling audience members how there is an urgent need for at least 80,000 technicians right now. 'These are our submarines,' he emphasized. 'Things go hypersonic, a little sideways with China, Taiwan, our aircraft carriers are no longer the point of the spear. They're vulnerable. 'Our submarines matter, and these guys have a pinch point because they can't find welders and electricians to get them built.' Rowe went on to say that the automotive industry is in need of 80,000 collision repair and technicians, while the energy sector needs somewhere between 300,000 to 500,000 more employees. Manufacturers are also having trouble finding workers, with about 400,000 jobs currently unfilled, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 'That's the underlying thing that I hope people really take from this conference,' he said, adding: 'There is a clear and present freak out going on right now.' 'I've heard from six governors over the last six months. I've heard from the heads of major companies. It's like a memo went out and people are realizing, "You know something, we need to tend to this."' Rowe then concluded his speech by telling 'young men and women in this state that a bright future awaits if they... learn a skill that's in demand. 'That's going to resonate politically, that's going to resonate practically. It's gonna move the needle,' he vowed. Rowe's speech comes just weeks after the New York Times reported on manufacturers' concerns attracting and retaining workers. It noted that some companies need to use specialized equipment that requires employees to have extensive training and familiarity with the software - which is becoming increasingly harder to find as fewer young people attend vocational school. 'For every 20 job postings that we have, there is one qualified applicant right now,' lamented David Gitlin, chairman and chief executive of Carrier Global - which produces air conditioners and furnaces. But his job will likely see a growth in demand with the rise of artificial intelligence, as the massive data centers are built with cooling systems called chillers. In total, Gitlin estimates that each AI data center would require four technicians to maintain a single chiller. And as these data centers grow, more and more white-collar workers may soon find themselves without a job. Earlier this month, Ford Motors CEO Jim Farley even predicted that artificial intelligence will ' replace literally half of all white-collar workers in the US.' 'AI will leave a lot of white-collar people behind,' he told Walter Isaacson at the Aspen Ideas Festival, shortly after Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced future workforce cuts were likely as the company continues to implement AI in its operations. More recently, it was announced that Indeed and Glassdoor, the hiring and public HR platforms that have transparently connected employers with online applicants, will replace six percent of its staff with AI. Most of Indeed and Glassdoor's layoffs are expected to hit US workers, particularly in research and development, HR, and sustainability teams, according to an internal memo obtained by Indeed CEO Hisayuki 'Deko' Idekoba said the cuts include some leadership shakeups. He wrote in an email to staff that 'AI is changing the world.' 'We must adapt by ensuring our product delivers truly great experiences for job seekers and employers,' he added.
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How AI Virtual Reality Gaming Is Solving The Factory Worker Shortage
MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 16: A man wears virtual reality glasses during the meeting 'The digital ... More revolution of employment', in the Auditorium of Espacio Fundacion Telefonica, on 16 June, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. This meeting addresses the role of training and digital talent in the digital transformation of three of the key productive sectors: construction, transport and agri-food and horticulture. The conference is part of 'Professionals 4.0', a project of Fundacion Telefonica together with CEOE that, in collaboration with Fundacion Laboral en la Construccion, Astic, Confebus and FEPEX, aims to promote training in digital skills of more than 36,000 professionals in these three sectors through the 'Nanograds 4.0'. (Photo By Marta Fernandez Jara/Europa Press via Getty Images) The United States is facing an unprecedented shortage of factory workers. There is one qualified worker for every 20 open factory jobs, David Gitlin, CEO of Carrier, an HVAC equipment maker, told The New York Times. And this is before we see the effects of President Trump's tariff policy, which has a stated goal of bringing even more manufacturing jobs to the are many reasons for the shortage. Blue collar workers are hitting retirement age, and a trend in recent years toward pushing more students to attend college means that fewer of them are participating in apprenticeship programs or going directly to learn on the job. There is now a glut of young, college educated workers who are unemployed, but their skills can't easily transfer to manufacturing jobs. Far from the image some might have of factory work being easy or repetitive, most current manufacturing jobs are technical and complex, requiring extensive training and a high degree of isn't going to be solved overnight, but two emerging technologies could provide a solution that speeds up the process. Virtual reality training, which has been adopted by companies like Walmart and Exxon to train workers in a variety of skills, could be deployed at scale to reach new workers and upskill them this training benefits everyone, it is especially useful for younger audiences, who are used to interactive content and video games. Headsets are still seen as a differentiating factor, and could be a useful tool for recruitment. Making job training a game, as opposed to a slog, could go a long way to getting young people interested in factory training has been shown to be 30% faster than traditional training at reaching skill proficiency, not to mention increasing employee engagement by 40% and reducing error rates by 20%. It has the added benefit of allowing trainees to fail safely — if someone is training on an expensive piece of equipment and makes a mistake, it could result in injury, or at least a costly repair and downtime. If they make a mistake in a virtual reality training program, all they need to do is restart the training also allows companies to train large numbers of people at scale, and lets them train on their own time. In-person training has built-in limits — only a certain number of people could use a machine or fit in a room at once, but training in a virtual environment means that a near infinite number of people can be in the program at the same time. Additionally, human trainers need to go home at the end of the day, whereas a VR training program can be used any time, and as many times as the user needs to get it have been put off by the high cost of creating training programs, but artificial intelligence provides a solution. There are several programs in the market that allow users to create scenarios by inputting and refining prompts. Engage, for example, lets people build digital twins of their environments and add 3D objects by using voice commands. Other companies, like Connexions, let you create virtual humans and have interactive conversations powered by AI. While Connexions is focused on the healthcare space, the technology could be used in any industry. After all, factories don't just need frontline workers; they need managers who can successfully motivate instances where AI content might not work, factory workers can use 360 cameras to capture environments and no-code programs like Uptale to add interactivity to the scenarios. 360 cameras are relatively affordable, usually a few hundred dollars, and once workers are trained to use them and use a no-code tool, they can start creating training at training for these jobs accessible will go a long way toward revitalizing communities and getting people who might have fallen on hard times or left the labor force back into the job market. It will also assure that American manufacturing continues to thrive and provide good jobs and growth opportunities.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Carolina Democrat says Newsom must explain 'many failures in California' before presidential run
A prominent South Carolina Democrat said Thursday that Gov. Gavin Newsom needs to explain his "many failures in California" before running for president. Per the Los Angeles Times, South Carolina attorney and former state senator Richard Harpootlian predicted that "Newsom would find it hard to find a foothold in many places in South Carolina." The former chairman of the state Democratic Party said that he struggles to see Newsom appealing to blue-collar workers. "He's a very, very handsome man," Harpootlian said. "But the party is searching for a left-of-moderate candidate who can articulate blue-collar hopes and desires. I'm not sure that's him." Harpootlian's comments came after Newsom teamed up with the South Carolina Democratic Party for two days of meetings with voters in the state. Twenty-one Democrats Who May Want To Run For The White House In 2028 Read On The Fox News App The California governor reportedly went to churches, cafés, coffee shops and community centers. During the two-day tour through South Carolina, Newsom made an effort to connect with voters, the local party and elected officials to campaign for the Democratic Party ahead of the midterm elections in 2026. The trip to the early primary state by the term-limited governor is sure to spark plenty of 2028 speculation, since Newsom is considered a potential contender for the next Democratic presidential nomination. The Times reported further that Harpootlian referred to Newsom as "just another rich guy," reacting to the speculation that Newsom could run for president. He added that Newsom "became wealthy because of his connections with heirs to the Getty oil fortune." "Harpootlian said he did not think Newsom was attuned to winning back blue-collar voters," the Times reported. Gavin Newsom Is Making A Strategic Visit To A Key Primary State, Raising Eyebrows "If he had a track record of solving huge problems like homelessness, or the social safety net, he'd be a more palatable candidate," Harpootlian said. "I just think he's going to have a tough time explaining why there's so many failures in California." After President Donald Trump's decisive victory, Democrats and media pundits began an autopsy of the 2024 election results. Some members of the Democratic Party have pointed to the party's neglect of working-class voters and overlooked key economic issues as they focused on flinging attacks on Trump. The South Carolina Democratic Party, which announced Newsom's trip last week, said it's part of their effort to bring national Democrats to parts of the Palmetto State that they say have long been overlooked and "left behind" by Republican officials. Newsom's office did not immediately respond to a request for article source: South Carolina Democrat says Newsom must explain 'many failures in California' before presidential run
Al Arabiya
09-07-2025
- Al Arabiya
Philadelphia Workers and City Reach a Deal to End Strike That Halted Residential Trash Pickup
A union representing thousands of city workers in Philadelphia and the city have reached a deal to end a more than weeklong strike that halted residential curbside trash pickup and affected other services, officials said Wednesday. Nearly 10,000 blue-collar employees from District Council 33 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees had walked off the job July 1 seeking better pay and benefits after failing to agree with the city on a new contract. The tentative agreement was announced on what would have been the ninth day of the strike. District Council 33 is the largest of four major unions representing city workers. Its membership includes 911 dispatchers, trash collectors, water department workers, and many others. Police and firefighters weren't part of the strike. The city had designated about 60 sites as drop-off centers for residential trash, but some were overflowing while striking workers on hand asked residents not to cross the picket line. Most libraries across the city were closed, with support workers and security guards off the job.
