Ford CEO Jim Farley has touched on the subject of skilled trade in the U.S. and the many opportunities it’s facing on several occasions as of late, which he sees as a huge problem. This is due to the fact that many industries rely heavily on skilled tradesworkers, but there’s a shortage of folks interested in becoming just that, which threatens the very future of the economy. As Ford Authority reported last week, Farley plans to meet with a group of leaders at the upcoming Ford Pro Accelerate event at the end of September to discuss potential solutions to this problem, and now, he’s touching on that same subject yet again.
In a recent piece published in Time magazine, Farley points out that many believe artificial intelligence will replace a lot of jobs, but adds “I can’t help thinking about the work A.I. can’t replace: the millions who primarily work with their hands. That includes tens of thousands of Ford hourly employees and skilled tradespeople who make our manufacturing system run every day and the millions who use our commercial trucks and vans to get their work done.”
As Farley points out, the white collar economy has grown by 28 percent over the past eight years due to the emergence of new tech, but the “essential economy,” as he calls it, has actually declined over the same period, while productivity is down as well. Trouble is, that sector helps sustain three million businesses in the U.S. and delivers $12 trillion in GDP, so the fact that its future is in danger could spell doom for the economy, in general. In terms of how that can be fixed, Farley has a few ideas.
“First, we need to get serious about workforce development. America is suffering major workforce shortages in essential industries,” he said. “For too long, we’ve treated workforce development programs as a form of welfare for the recently unemployed. Instead, we should learn from the successful model of federal R&D funding—and see workforce development as a powerful investment in the Essential Economy. When we train workers, we should prepare them for the economy of 2050, not 1950. In order to achieve these goals, we need to cut red tape at the federal, state, and local levels.”
Comments
I think Mr. Farley should be focused on “essential quality” of Ford produced vehicles. Rather than the essential economy . Let President Trump worry about the economy.
I think that’s what he’s worried about.
“Let pres Trump worry about the economy”
You mean that same guy who put illegal tariffs in place?
You mean that same guy who put tariffs in place that hurt industry, despite being warned by industry leaders?
It really is a cult, y’all refuse to find a flaw in the man making your groceries more expensive by the day.
Yeah Farley will train employees based on the buddy system. Not qualify on a test.. they did this before not who you know but who you blow. Half quit.
The workers he is looking for are in High School, they need training programs and support! Does a farmer look at a field and expect crops to grow? No, he fertilizes, plows, plants seeds and tends his crops for a good harvest!
Fortunately, the enrollment in many trade schools is, and has been on the rise. These shifts though take time to manifest. Our car club as part of our community outreach, has visited many local trade schools, and the staff at each agrees with the ever increasing numbers.
Very insightful comment by JF. These positions are the backbone of our present and future economic productivity. We need continued investment in hiring, training, and proper compensation for these essential positions.
Jim Farley is on point. One issue is that the Federal Government has no clue as to the essential worker needs and specific skilled trades required to support economic activity today and into the future. The federal government is destroying public education and have no plans to fund vocational trade schools etc. The solution is going to come from companies like Ford and others to collaborate on funding the programs required and working with local communities to identify the young talented and interested candidates for the these skilled positions.
Maybe it’s because they didn’t hire apprentices for 30 years and now all all of a sudden they need new recruits in the system that had been disbanded.
In California over the past few decades innumerable middle & high schools have been throwing out all the shop equipment in the dumpster remodeling the shops into classrooms. The academia’s running these school systems say they want the students to all pursue college prep on a path to becoming professionals in the workplace, not tradespeople.
Deeds, not words….Jim.
Do better
Maybe if jimbo paid the mechanics by the hour instead of flat rape at his dealerships, dropped his night and Saturday services, he just might retain good help. Just a thought…
Jim twists himself into pretzels coming up with excuses for why the industry is dying, yet absolutely refuses to acknowledge his constant opposition of unions, depressed wages, and lack of technical direction are sabotaging both the OEs and suppliers.
Maybe someday we’ll choose technical leaders instead of these corpo talking heads
Farley needs to take care of problems like my 2017 Ford Fusion 2.0 that is leaking coolant into the cylinders. No one at Ford has time to handle that problem so this 82 year old is stuck with an $8000.00 repair. They say the car is too old. 47,000 miles on car
Many years ago I was working for an automotive supplier company. I decided to take a class in basic repair etc. A local high school had a dedicated program with facilities to match. As it happens the best student was a young woman who took on drum brakes. (Anyone of a certain age knows this requires skill and patience given the complexity. Of course those wheels have been replaced with disc brakes.) Years later the school closed the garage and turned it into a stage for student actors and musicians. I’m not against the arts but we now know this has been a significant mistake for those who love this work. America is not the pragmatic country it once was. Technical skills that keep all variety of vehicles on the road could not be more important. In some of these areas, young men (and women) are earning six figures a year. “Shop” as we called it back then is fundamental. College “for everyone” has been a massive waste of time, money, and given the necessities for our economy.
Every millennial that was interested or came from a trades family remembers 2008. When things go bad they’re the first to get laid off , thrown away, and outsourced. This is what happens when racing to the bottom economics is the law of the land.
You get consequences and the next generation of journeymen never start their apprenticeship.
Hello, Has anyone seen the rendering for a possible 2026 falcon xb gt? I’m not a ford fan because old Henry’s racist and nazi ideology and the fact that more republicans drive ford than chevy. Anyway… there are a few fords in history i quite like. I’m a chevy girl and early 2nd gen z28 is my ride. Never a fan of the mustang, because lets face it, chevy had it all over ford at that time. The closest to a mustang i could ride was the 70 cougar which is just a better looking reskinned mustang. When i first saw mad max all those decades ago, i saw a really cool looking car and eventually found out what it was. The Aussie Falcon xa, xb and xc. Way way better looking than a mustang. So, if the ford morons put this car out globally in left and right drive, they would ruin dodge if they keep up with the electric bs. Chevy will have to play catch up and that could be interesting if chevy came out with a new retro 70 chevelle. There is a company making carbon fibre chevelles using this last gen camaro. It looks pretty sweet and convertible with rag top and hard roof. This could be a whole new muscle car competition that wasn’t anemic. I must say i would definitely want to buy the new xb.