A machinist's perspective

I've been working as a machinist for more than 30 years. I can set up and operate manual lathes, milling machines and grinding machines. I can program, set up and operate CNC lathes and milling machines. I have been a shop supervisor. (I stopped having nightmares the day I relinquished that position).

I've been laid off many times, but 6 months is the longest spell of unemployment I've ever experienced. A three day weekend was the shortest. I live in one of the highest cost of living areas in the country, and I've never earned $100K in a year. I may earn $70K this year, but that's because I've been working 50-60 hour weeks.

When I started out, I knew men who had worked as drill press operators for 30 or 40 years. They never learned to set up the jobs, and never wanted to learn. Yet, they were able to get married, buy a house, raise a family, send the kids to college, buy a vacation home on the seashore or in the mountains, and eventually retire with a good pension. Those jobs no longer exist.

My current employer needs to grow. The backlog of orders is such that I'll have all the overtime I can handle for at least the next two years. They need to hire more machinists, welders and fabricators. They have been trying. They can't find anyone who is qualified. They can't find young people who are willing to learn the trade. I will be old enough to retire in a few more years. So will many of my colleagues. What will happen when we do retire? Will the company be able to get the work done? Will they be able to keep the work in the USA? We're all in trouble if they can't.