(WACO) \u2014 While the national unemployment rate has dipped some in recent months, many report trouble finding a job. Yet, certain high-tech firms are complaining of a shortage of skilled workers in their companies. Recently, CBS News reported some CEOs, like John McGlade of Air Products in Allentown, Pa., are worried about finding enough skilled technicians to fill future workforce gaps.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s not alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmployers tell us they need more graduates, but right now we”re nearly at our max,\u201d said Dan Bateman, senior instructor of Electrical Power & Controls Technology (EPC) at Texas State Technical College. \u201cThis past December, we had the largest graduating class”ve seen in all my years here.”<\/p>\n
In the fall 2011 semester, five companies came knocking on the college\u2019s door for EPC graduates. One company, he said, interviewed 21 students and offered 14 of them positions. It’s not unusual for every graduate to be offered a job, he added.<\/p>\n
A sixth company has called for students to come to interview at its Houston office, and yet another company is flying two students for interviews to its headquarters in Oklahoma.<\/p>\n
\u201cNormally, every student will get a job offer,\u201d he said, adding some will turn it down because they don\u2019t like the company\u2019s location. \u201cUsually, we will hear from them later that they are working in the area they wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Job offers come with nice salaries, too, Bateman said. Students this semester have been offered anywhere from $20 to $29 per hour.<\/p>\n
The EPC department isn\u2019t the only technology that can\u2019t crank out graduates fast enough. Students in Welding, Instrumentation, Diesel, Biomedical and many others remain in high demand. A job fair at TSTC Oct. 20 has attracted more than 50 companies.<\/p>\n
To watch the CBS video, go to http:\/\/bit.ly\/q4oGzt.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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