Expanded location of B.D.M. Millwrights which moved to a larger facility to handle growing business. September 17, 2015 (Photo by Simon Crouch) Expanded location of B.D.M. Millwrights which moved to a larger facility to handle growing business. September 17, 2015 (Photo by Simon Crouch)
Chatham

Skilled Labour A Challenge

A company recently recognized for completing agri-food related projects in many parts of the world admits to having trouble finding skilled staff.

Jim Waters, the president of BDM Millwrights, says he offers co-op job placements and deals with apprenticeship programs because finding skill trades workers is not easy.

"The stigma attached toward the trades and people who don't get a university education and unfortunately we have a young population that is well educated and under employed," he says.

However, part of the challenge is that a lot of the jobs are away from home and the hours are long.

Waters encourages young people to consider skilled trades, and says people are often surprised to find out some tradespeople can earn six figure incomes.

The company was recently recognized as the Industry of the Month.

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