USAToday 10-28-99
Skilled-worker shortage is a myth


By Christine Lukowitsch


It's hard to open the business section of any newspaper these days
without running across an article bemoaning the "skilled-labor shortage"
that is supposedly threatening the heart of American business. It's time
someone called these companies on the farce they're so busy publicizing
because the workers are out there. The perceived shortage lies in the
difference between the employers' notions about what the "ideal"
candidate looks like, and the reality of the American workforce.


I am a recent college graduate - again. A career-changer with nine years
of professional experience, I maintained a 3.9 GPA in Information
Technology while working and attending classes at night. After
graduating, I discovered the cold hard truth about entry-level job
seekers: we are pariahs. The very same companies that are putting
pressure on institutions of higher learning to produce high-tech workers
refuse to even consider hiring new graduates. We are told, "Call back
when you have two years experience."


They are woefully ignorant to the fact that they are missing out on some
of the hungriest, most enthusiastic individuals who will ever darken
their doorstep. Of course, there are dues to be paid when entering any
new profession. We are willing to pay them, just as we are willing to be
loyal to the company that cuts us a break. They don't get it. The
"skilled-labor shortage" is really a refusal by employers to open their
minds to the rich diversity of job seekers that are pounding the
pavement at this very moment. Undeniably, the classifieds are brimming
with employment opportunities. But read between the lines, and you'll
find a plethora of preconceived notions of the ideal candidate. He or
she should be the right age, have neither too little nor too much
experience, live in the right place, look a certain way and be willing
to accept whatever compensation is offered.


No wonder they're scrambling. In case no one's noticed, the United
States is growing more diverse every day, and that fact is reflected in
today's workforce. New college graduates aren't necessarily fresh-faced
22-year-olds anymore. Career changers bring a wealth of transferable
skills from their previous experience, and the fact that they were
gained in a different industry in no way diminishes their value.
Immigration is at an all-time high. Not everyone comes from a perfect
nuclear family with a spouse and 2.5 children. The days of
cradle-to-grave employment are long gone, and with them the stereotypes
of the typical American employee. Instead of embracing such diversity
among their employees, too many companies are railing against it. They
don't know what they're missing.


These employers need to ask themselves some tough questions: Are we
offering a competitive salary? Are we willing to invest a few months to
bring an enthusiastic entry-level worker up to speed? Are we willing to
consider non-traditional arrangements including telecommuting, flextime,
or job sharing? Is it really cost-effective to prolong the search for
the "perfect" candidate for months, even years, when we are inundated
with applicants who confidently await the chance to rise to the
occasion?


The skilled-worker shortage is a myth. Companies who have learned to
think outside the box know this, as do the hundreds of thousands of
highly skilled workers who have forsaken corporate America to pursue
consulting or freelance employment in their fields of expertise. The
only things in short supply in today's job market are employers who are
open to the changing realities of the American workforce.


When they decide it's time to catch up, we'll be waiting.


Christine Lukowitsch is founder and president of Lukovision, a web presence
consulting firm based in Pueblo, Co.