What Skills Shortage?

What skills shortage?

Now where are the calls of desperation about shortages of tradespeople in Fort McMurray?

When oil was $150 a barrel, exploration and development was booming in the oil sands projects and the worker sprung from annonimity to be the critical link in project success; since money certainly wasn't. It like a shop keeper glancing up at a dusty shelf and realizing the can goods were suddenly selling more quickly, and ordering several cases without concern about demand falling off and being unable to sell the product. Unlikely, but that was the mood, of the shelf being empty, forgeting that skilled workers are not items on a retail shelf but individuals with families. Some of those who relocated west in search of the big money may have found themselves in difficult straits as the price of oil fell to $40 a barrel and development and exploration projects were curtailed.

So skilled craft workers are individuals with varied abilities, families, hopes and obligations; not toy soldiers on a hobby shop shelf.  while this site will stress commonalities, they vary widely in learning styles, ability to lead or follow, replicate or inovate. They do take great pride in their ability to self direct, focus, and problem solve.

And they will be the subject, with all that makes them tick, of this blog.