By Illinois Radio Network
BLOOMINGTON – Whatever happened to shop class in Illinois? One business owner is asking that question as he looks to fill openings at his Bloomington print shop.
Tom Mercier, CEO at Bloomington offset printing in Bloomington-Normal, said he is having trouble finding workers to fill job openings.
Mercier said he needs folks with basic math and mechanical skills — skills Mercer said shop classes used to teach.
“I think the high schools could do a lot,” Mercier said. “I get kids out of high school; and if you put them on a machine with someone who’s been here 20 or 25 years, they pick it up pretty quick if they’re mechanically inclined.”
Mercer said he does need more math skills from younger workers. He said fractions and basic spatial awareness is key in his line of work.
Bob Shaw, Dean of STEM and business at Heartland Community College in Normal, said Heartland offers a range of training across the vocational curriculum.
“Some areas you might be able to take as little as one semester’s worth of courses and go directly to work,” Shaw said. “Other occupations might require a professional certification or a two-year degree from us.
Shaw added Heartland offers career counseling to help students determine their best career path, whether it’s more ‘hammer and nails’ or more administration.
“If you look at the whole STEM area there’s lots of pathways and opportunities for students now, a lot more than when I was in school. In some ways it’s kind of an exciting time because students have a lot of options.”
Lisa Gregory, spokeswoman at Richland Community College, said community colleges across the state are doing the job high school vocational classes used to do.
“By our mission, community colleges work with businesses and industries to create unique or specific training classes to fit our business and industry needs,” Gregory added.
Gregory said, however, that community colleges as a whole need to make sure employers across the state know about their programs.
Eric Stock contributed to this report.
