Economy
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/media/k2/items/src/4bd8bfbd693f53a2821fd8734cb25a61.jpg)
FMA: Fabricators' Top Concern? Finding Skilled Workers
Written by Tim Triplett
October 25, 2019
Finding skilled workers is the top concern among respondents to The Fabricator’s 2019 “What Keeps You Up at Night?” survey.
Published by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, the survey asked fabrication company executives to rank their concerns from a list that included availability of credit, availability of skilled workers, consolidation of competition and customers, cost of raw materials, economy, erosion of manufacturing as a viable career choice, foreign competition, government regulations/policy/tariffs, growth of federal government debt, health care costs, lack of business strategy, and meeting increased customer expectations. Forty-five percent listed “availability of skilled workers” as a top concern, the highest percentage since this issue started dominating this survey question in 2011, reported the FMA.
Attracting young people to careers in manufacturing is an ongoing challenge and, with unemployment so low, the lack of manpower poses a threat to industry growth. Fifty-four percent of the survey respondents said they were going to devote major resources to finding and retaining skilled labor over the next three to five years.
Read the full report at: Where’s the Next Generation of Fabricators?
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/tim-triplett.jpeg)
Tim Triplett
Read more from Tim TriplettLatest in Economy
Metalformers expect steady conditions in coming months
Metalformers expect economic activity to stabilize over the next three months, according to the recently released July Business Conditions Report from the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA).
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/construction.png)
Architecture Billings Index rises from 4-year low in June
The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) ticked up in June following May’s four-year low, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Deltek. While the index improved this month, it continues to indicate weak business conditions among architecture firms.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/FedRes.png)
Beige Book: Uncertainty to continue fueling slower economic growth
Growth in the US economy continues to be constrained. The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book report for July shows more areas reporting flat or declining economic activity than in its previous report at the end of May.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/AISI.png)
AISI, AISC, University of Massachusetts get ~$6.4M EPA grant
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst have received a grant to enhance emissions reporting for steel construction projects.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/empire_state_1-scaled.jpg)
Manufacturing activity in New York state continues to soften
New York state saw a continued decline in manufacturing activity in July, according to the latest Empire State Manufacturing Survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.