A market for good employees

Employees are having some great times in manufacturing. Anyone who wants to work can pretty much find a job, even two. Manufacturers are pleading for qualified machinists, manufacturing engineers, process engineers, mechanical engineers and other positions. But what kinds of employees are they getting? Are they willing to forgo employees who come to work late? What about individuals who take time off frequently? What about arrogant employees who look down on their co-workers?

I remember years ago when we had a similar situation, although it was not as great of a bull market for hiring. Actually, we have a cyclical history of worker supply and demand. However, I can’t remember any demand to the degree we currently have.

How does the present employment situation help potential employees? First and foremost, there is more wiggle room for better pay. Many years ago, I employer-hopped for higher pay. Back in those days, an additional 25 or 50 cents an hour made a big difference in a paycheck. I remember when a decent new car was $3,800 and a gallon of gas cost $1 or less. So if I got an extra 50 cents an hour, that was an extra $1,040 per year, excluding any overtime. I could almost pay off my new car in 3 years—just with the additional 50 cents an hour.

Let’s not forget about looking for a job that simply has better benefits. These days, health insurance is a huge expense. What about a pension plan or 401(k)? Can a company you’re considering joining contribute more to a plan? Does the business match at a rate of 25 or 50 percent, and is there a cap? What about profit sharing? Is it paid out annually, quarterly or even monthly? What about holidays and vacation time? Can the organization offer more? Downtime for employees is a good thing. I’m all for fewer working days and more time off.