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Jobs mismatch between
employers and workers
“Workers can’t pass 8th grade reading levels”
By Bob Robinson
“The southern part of the county is now starting to plant,” said Justin
Petrosino, Darke County’s OSU Agricultural Extension Agent. He noted
that planting hasn’t started in earnest in the north because of the wet
ground.
“Some are planting corn, some corn and beans. Those who planted early,”
he added, “now have to break up the crust that was created when the wet
ground they planted dried up during the recent hot weather.”
While the focus of the monthly Agriculture meetings at Brethren
Retirement Community is typically to update farmers on agriculture in
the county, it sometimes doesn’t stay there. The state of the economy
often enters into the discussion.
Thursday morning – as it has been for many months – was on jobs.
Karen Baker, Darke County Jobs & Family Services, reported that
Darke County official unemployment was slightly above the national
average at 9.1 percent; however that was before the new numbers were
released Friday morning.
John Spencer, Ohio Department of Development, Dayton Office, said there
is lots of hiring in Montgomery County… the problem is getting a “fit”
between employers’ needs and workers’ skill levels.
“Caterpillar, is having a tough time filling its job openings… people
can’t pass the test.” He added that these were not high tech jobs; many
positions are for factory work.
Discussion around the group noted that:
Workers can usually pass 6th grade reading levels, but not 8th grade…
Schools not getting the job done, so employers are developing their own
training programs…
Demand for unskilled labor is going away…
The most notable point raised had to do with worker expectations. Job
requirements change just like everything else. Workers have to keep
current, but many of the long-term unemployed don’t want to do that.
“They want to put in their eight hours and go home… they want the
money, but they won’t stay current in the skills they need.”
Darke County Commissioner Diane Delaplane reported that counties are
starting to see more local levies and they should expect that trend to
continue as state funding in a variety of areas is phased out.
The Agricultural Extension meetings are open to all interested people.
They are held the first Thursday of each month, 7:30 a.m., Employee
Dining Room at BRC.
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