Factory Apprenticeship needed in the US

Interesting article in this week's Times about the lack of apprenticeship programs in the US that produce skilled workers for the high tech manufacturing plants here. According to the article, this is the norm in Germany, resulting in a steady stream of highly qualified workers to fuel their industries.

One of my big clients is building a steel mill in Alabama and they are receiving all sorts of help from the state including state-sponsored training programs to train the workers they are hiring. Once the state trains them, they will have their pick of the graduates.

The main reason my client chose to place their new plant in Alabama was the support they are receiving from the state of Alabama. It's time other states wised up and started providing similar support.