Getting a handle on the human capital predicament

Aug 21, 2008 | 12:14 PM |

North America is facing a new work force transformation the exodus of baby boomers from the work place.

Education, energy, government and manufacturing sectors are all facing a very strong increase in retirements over the next two decades. About 76 million baby boomers will be leaving the work force between 2011 and 2029, with an estimated 2.7 million manufacturing-sector employees likely to leave the work force over the next 10 years, according to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

Somewhere between 30 and 50 percent of the North American steel industry's work force will be eligible to retire in the next five years, according to a story in the August 2007 monthly issue of AMM. This is creating a challenging predicament, but on the flip side of the coin it is a tremendous opportunity for talented young students.

The steel industry provides opportunity for growth and responsibility in every facet of our business. Steel plants today are ultra-modern facilities that employ the latest automation technologies and deliver products that improve our environment. Did you know that the steel industry in the United States emits the lowest CO2 per ton of production of any in the world? We're not satisfied with that performance, though, and are currently developing new ways to make steel that would emit little or no carbon dioxide.....