The chief executive of Ford has said thousands of high-paying jobs in the United States remain unfilled because too few people are trained to do them. Jim Farley warned that the shortage is a serious problem for the country’s future workforce.
Speaking on the Office Hours: Business Edition podcast last November, Mr Farley said Ford had around 5,000 vacant mechanic roles. Each position, he said, offers salaries of up to $120,000 a year, well above the average US income.
Mr Farley said many Ford dealerships have fully equipped workshops but no staff to work in them. He blamed the shortage on a lack of long-term training, noting that it can take up to five years to gain the skills needed for modern vehicle repair.
He added that the US is failing to invest enough in educating a new generation of skilled workers. Mr Farley said these jobs once helped people build stable, middle-class lives, but fewer young people are now entering such career paths.
The Ford boss said the problem extends beyond the automotive industry. He pointed to shortages in emergency services, trucking, factory work, plumbing, electrical work, and other skilled trades.
Industry reports support his concerns. Forbes has estimated that hundreds of thousands of new trade jobs could be created in the coming years, even as other roles face growing risks from automation and artificial intelligence.
