Take advantage of this moment in time to sell young people on industry careers.
For about 20 years, the most persistent problem facing PHC contractors has been the skilled labor shortage. Talented young people have been forsaking industry careers for a variety of reasons that have been detailed many times in these pages and elsewhere - the work is hard and unglamorous, school counselors turn their noses up, etc.
Now, for a brief shining moment - who knows how long it will last - the stars may be aligned just right to turn this situation around. The news media is filled with stories lamenting the outsourcing of jobs to low-cost foreign countries. Long a worrisome fact of life to factory workers, the outsourcing phenomenon lately has unleashed a tidal wave of angst among white collars as well.