I keep reading in the news that American businesses can’t find enough “skilled workers” even though there’s more university graduates then ever before. Sounds like a load of ■■■■ to me. These businesses are just looking for cheap labor that they don’t have to train. Businesses used to invest in their workers, now you’re just a temporary asset until the next round of layoffs.
I got my degree in print journalism. It was not the most appropriate job for me because my father was elderly and needed me to help him out at home. I did not want to leave him in order to gain more experience in the print media and so stayed at home. I thought I could get any job with a bachelors degree in journalism, but the thing was that all my knowledge was theory and not actual work experience.
Employers from my experience want actual work experience from college graduates. I think when the media says there is a shortage of skilled workers, I think they mean workers with actual hands on work experience. University graduates are skilled but then most of their knowledge is theoretical. Employers want proof that you can apply your theoretical knowledge in real-world situations. This is where internships come into play, but then even an internship might not be enough.
This is just from my experience. Other people might have had better luck than me, but then again I was not exactly well when I was in journalism school.
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It is “chicken or egg” issue. Graduates have to work anyhow for the first time in order to gain experience. Employers can’t expect working experience from university graduates.
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It used to be that companies would pluck students out of college, train them on their processes, and reward for performance throughout their career. Now companies want everyone to be subject-matter experts on day one and then complain that there aren’t enough qualified individuals.
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And how many jobs do you think someone with a master’s degree in gender studies will actually be useful at? Honestly?
Pixel.
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That was slightly offensive 
And hilarious.
most young kids these days are pretty lazy and generally not commited to there job and could quit on a whim. its just not the same type of work force anymore. ocassionally there are exceptions to that and there are some hard working younger people.
also depends what type of work they are applying for.
the younger generation basically wants to make 50 dollars an hour and have there nice car and house NOW they want it right away. they want instant gratifcation.
america and canada especially need immigrants for building trades as most kids go to university for some silly associate of arts degree that does nothing for them in the real world.
sorry rant over 
My wife has been a teacher for over two decades. At the start of her career kids knew they had to work hard for an A. These days they expect it for showing up and not necessarily on time. My own employer will NOT hire anyone under thirty unless they have belonged to an organization like 4H.
Times, they are a changin’.
Pixel.
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There’s hardly any apprenticeship programs anymore for the trades. Trade unions used to train young workers. Now their all deunionized. At least they are around here.
Local plumbers and electricians can’t find apprentices where I live. No one wants the jobs. Too “dirty”. Too much work, not enough pay. All the kids want to work in the oil patch here, although the low price of oil is changing that.
Pixel.
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I’ve never heard of 4H before. I’ll have to look into that.
I think Pixel’s talking about the organization for farm kids - you learn to raise animals, other life skills. I imagine that membership in it growing up is a signal to employers that the person is responsible and unafraid of hard work.
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