Machine Tool Ranks Among State's List of Top 10 Hardest-to-Fill Jobs

CONTACT: DAVID WALKER, EXT. 2270

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4/1/99
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Despite the number of students who will be earning Machine Tool Technology degrees from Tri-County Technical College this year, it won't even scrape the surface of meeting the need for qualified machinists in the area's industries.

"If our first- and second-year students aren't already working in the field, when they graduate in May, they can have their choice of jobs," said David Walker, who leads the College's Machine Tool Technology department.

It's not just a local dilemma, says Walker. Machine tool ranks right up there with managers and supervisors in the state chamber of commerce's list of top 10 hardest-to-fill jobs. To add to the problem, the average age of machinists is 55 – just a few years away from retirement, which will leave even more job vacancies in the future.

"We're not graduating enough machinists to fill the need, yet tool and die technicians were listed in Newsweek's February "hot jobs list" with an annual salary that ranges between $40,000 and $70,000," said Walker.

"There are excellent job opportunities out there," he added. "Some of my graduates will earn more than someone who graduates with a bachelor's degree. It can be a stepping stone or good career for the rest of your life."

James Gibson, of Westminster, chose the latter. He began as a machinist at The Torrington Company in West Union 19 years ago and is now the company's first–shift tool and die lead person. He said he never thought about leaving the profession. "There's always something new in the field which has changed dramatically with the advent of computers," he said. He began working in 1980 after graduating from Tri-County's Machine Tool Department. "Computer Numerical Control (CNC) made the job a lot more complicated and a lot simpler in other ways. I work with progressive dies and often must do design change so we use autocad to solve problems with dye sets." He also builds new die sets and makes dimension changes and works on troubleshooting.

Walker agrees that automation is the major change in the field. When he was a toolmaker in the early 80's at General Motors in Ohio, much more work was manually performed. As they are today, math skills were important when he graduated from high school and entered an
apprenticeship with GM, Walker said.

The need for precision, problem solving proficiency and independent/critical thinking skills still prevails as they did in the 60's, said Walker. "Machinists work with their mind and their hands," he said. "It's not a repetitive job where you do the same thing every day."

Gibson adds patience to that list of qualities for a good machinist. "There is a need for the ability to look at a die set and determine corrective action. It's a step-by-step process. Critical thinking is a must."

There is also a sense of pride in a job well done, added Gibson, who is one of Torrington's instructors for total quality management.

Jamie Gibson, the 22-year-old son of James, is continuing the family tradition by working at Torrington also and attending evening Machine Tool classes at Tech. An added bonus is taking advantage of the tuition reimbursement program at Torrington. "I've become even more interested in machine tool because of the classes," said Jamie, who is a utility person in the stamping department at Torrington. "You learn the importance of taking pride in your craftsmanship in class and on the job."

Despite being on the list of hot jobs, there are still misconceptions about the profession, says Walker. "In the past it's been a male-dominated field – the occupation is wide open for females. (Walker has two females in his curriculum.) It's challenging, and there is room for advancement."

A large number of Upstate companies employ precision machinists and tool makers. "When new industries move into the area, they look for metal workers. I will have no trouble placing my graduates this May," said Walker.

"Machine Tool Technology represents tremendous opportunity. It's not a dead end job," said Walker.
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