I should also add, that there has been a significant increase in graduates from A&P schools being directly targeted and hired by other industries. Some industries have even taken the search so far, as to advertise in Aviation publications. Aviation technicians are highly desirable, as they are highly trained (and trainable) in a variety of disciplines, used to operating and maintaining complex and expensive equipment, astute troubleshooters and are safety conscious.
Last year the entire graduating class from a school in Vancouver B.C. was hired by the oil and gas industry, and guess what, the pay, conditions and benefits were incomparable to the crap they would have taken as entry level aviation technicians!
I have seen a significant increase in the numebr of experienced A&P's leaving the industry, couple of examples being an Industrial HVAC maintenance job @ $35.00 per hour and an electrical lineman, starting at $27.00 per hour!
The industry of course blames everyone else for this mess, but the reality is that they are so far behind the curve in a burgeoning business, that the course for continued expansion will be the most efficient players, who are able to utilise their manpower to the greatest advantage.
There is a significant chance that some businesses will fail, simply because their management is not astute enough to understand that the success of a business is the combination of a first class stable and competent workforce, married to capable and effective management. As I watch some of these labour negotiations between employer and employee, I just shake my head and try to calculate the long term cost of the ensuing bitterness and mistrust that the management have just created by the manner in which the negotiations are conducted.
If you can't find good employees, you need to closely examine your management structure.
If you can't keep good employees, you need to closely examine your management structure.
A shortage of people simply means that someone, somewhere is doing a better job of managing their company, than you are yours!!!