Supply chain jobs can fuel economic growth
I’m surprised by the response of some media outlets to President Obama’s visit last week to a Chattanooga Amazon fulfillment center. The visit coincided with Amazon’s announcement that it is creating 5,000 full-time jobs at 17 distribution centers across the U.S. Story after story asserts that these are dead end jobs that will barely lift workers past the poverty level.
Is Amazon the best place for Obama to tout jobs? USA Today
Earth to Obama: Amazon’s Jobs Are Dirty Work. Esquire
On His Jobs Tour, Obama Touts Amazon Jobs That Are Literally Out Of Reach. Huffington Post
Obama’s Sadly Appropriate Amazon Speech. U.S. News and World Report
A little research would tell them that these are in-fact good jobs offering a benefit package including health care, a 401(k) and company stock. Sure, some of these jobs are entry-level, but many require a good amount of skill and training. If you haven’t been to an automated distribution center lately, they utilize some pretty cutting-edge equipment and technology and require an increasingly more sophisticated skill set from workers. The more skills required for the job, the higher the pay. And jobs in the supply chain offer solid advancement opportunities.
A little more research would have told them that there is a shortage of these skilled workers in manufacturing and distribution. These jobs are opportunities for those without a college education to advance in a career in the supply chain industry. According to the latest DC Velocity Salary Survey, a career in this industry is anything but dead end. Here’s their headline:
Whether in the manufacturing facility, the warehouse or distribution center, engineering or the corner office-this industry is looking for skilled workers.
These Amazon jobs are exactly the kind of jobs that the MHI Technical Career Education Program (TCEP) graduates are aiming for. Click here to learn more about this important program.
