Although the unemployment rate has dropped steadily over the last five years, there are certain positions in the region employers find difficult to fill.

"We've seen a shortage of drivers with CDLs (commercial driver's licenses)," Shad Burner, business development specialist at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, said. "And we've heard from a few different people that there's a shortage of welders. The Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center has a welding program, and they've had success enrolling students, graduating them and placing them in jobs after graduation."

Brandon Bradshaw, welding instructor at the Career and Technology Center, said enrollment in the welding program has been strong.

"Our high school courses fill up and usually have a waiting list. The evening classes, offered four nights a week, also see strong enrollment," Bradshaw said.

Although enrollment in his courses remains high, there is an overall greater push toward college right after high school, which may explain the shortage, Bradshaw said.

"Career education has been looked down on a little bit, but that's been changing recently," he said.

Cindy Weihl of the American Welding Society said there will be a national need for 240,000 additional welders between 2009 and 2019. That number is projected to increase by 100,000 by 2024.

The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center reports in 2013, the average starting hourly wage in the welding industry is $11.68, with an annual pay of $24,302. Experienced welders earn an average of $17.95 per hour, or a $37,336 annually. Although specific numbers regarding open welding positions in the Cape Girardeau area are not available, local companies such as Standley Batch Systems, Southeast Fabricating and Canedy Sign and Graphics often hire welders.

Students in the Career and Technology Center's welding program are enthusiastic about the subject and the prospect of working in the field after graduation.

"It's a good-paying career," said student Tyler Bock, who began welding and working with metal when he was young and plans to become a fabricator or pipeline welder after graduation.

Seth Klipfel aspires to work in welding after graduation, because it's a field he enjoys.

"It's fun. It's something different that not a whole lot of people are doing," he said.

There is no prerequisite education, only testing, to become a certified welder. The classes offered by the Career and Technology Center give the students necessary skills and education to pass the American Welding Society entry-level program test and the society's welder qualification test.

"The average age of welders right now is around 58," Bradshaw said.

Baby boomers have been working in welding positions and soon will be retiring. Bradshaw said there likely will be a gap in experienced welders. He has full classes of young people ready to join the job market, while older, more experienced welders are on their way out.

"Pretty soon, there won't be a lot of experienced welders to train the new people coming in," he said.

As far as qualified welders are concerned, "people have told us they can take as many as [the welding programs] can give," Burner said.

The American Trucking Association indicates a similar issue with the age of their workforce.

In 2014, the average age of over-the-road drivers was 49. Craig Dillman, administrator and instructor at Southern Missouri Truck Driving School in Scott City, said the age of his students vary widely between sections.

"In the current section I'm teaching, I have a 24-year-old and an 68-year-old," Dillman said.

A 2015 study from the American Trucking Association said the industry was short 38,000 drivers in 2014, and the shortage was expected to increase by 10,000 in 2015. The shortage could balloon to 175,000 if the trend holds.

"There are always jobs available," Dillman said. "If you look in the classifieds, at least one out of three is a truck-driving job."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average wage for truck drivers in nonsupervisory positions is $20.80 an hour, with the average driver working 42.1 hours a week. Median pay for truck drivers is $39,520 per year, or $19 per hour.

June O'Dell, president and chief operating officer of the Workforce Development Board, suggested the effort that goes into getting the driving jobs with the best schedules may be a deterrent.

"As a new licensed driver, you have to put your time in and get good driving experience before you get the good jobs," O'Dell said. "A lot of people don't want to put in that amount of time."

"The life of a truck driver is not for everyone," Dillman said. When it comes to new drivers, "the majority are out seven to 14 days, then go home for a couple of days, and then are on the road for another seven to 14 days."

Charles Jones, a student at Southern Missouri Truck Driving School, is aware of the long hours, but sees the trucking industry as a good opportunity to provide for his family.

"It's a sacrifice," Jones said. "Hopefully down the road I can get a local job or end up getting my own truck and setting my own hours, so I can spend more time with my family."

Those willing to put in time with a company often are rewarded.

"You get at least a year of solid work with at least one company, and a lot more opportunities will open up. After two or three years, you might find something that gets you home every night," Dillman said.

Mike Berry of the Missouri Job Center said there are many careers that always are in demand, such as restaurant work and retail jobs, because of turnover. But the shortage in fields such as trucking is because of a lack of workers.

"There's not a high turnover rate in jobs like trucking," Berry said. "There's just a nationwide shortage."

While fields such as trucking and welding need workers, they aren't the only area professions identified as in-demand. Berry said the nationwide job shortage also extends to nurses and certified nursing assistants.

"Forklift drivers," O'Dell added.

"Manufacturing is having trouble finding general labor and skilled labor," Burner said.

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

1080 S Silver Springs Rd, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703

1737 North Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

760 S Kingshighway # C, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703

2086 Southern Expressway, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703

4857 Nash Rd, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

505 Aquamsi St, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703

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Unemployment by county

The national unemployment rate as of November 2015 is 5.0 percent. The regional unemployment rate varies widely by county, with many counties falling below the national average.

County Unemployment percentage

Bollinger 4.6

Cape Girardeau 3.7

Dunklin 7

Iron 5.7

Madison 4.8

Mississippi 4.9

New Madrid 5.5

Pemiscot 8.4

Perry 3.3

Ste. Genevieve 4.2

St. Francois 5.2

Scott 4.5

Stoddard 5.5

Source: Missouri Economic Research and Information Center

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Missouri*'s high-growth industries

There is growth in a number of industries throughout the state. The top 10 high-growth industries in Missouri during the first quarter of 2015 include high- and low-wage positions.

Industry Average weekly wage Growth from previous year (percent)

Manufacturing $809 3.4

Retail trade $429 4

Accommodation and food services $250 4.1

Transportation and warehousing $824 4.5

Construction $819 7.2

Administrative and waste services $474 8.5

Other services except public administration $421 1.7

Mining $1,162 2.5

Management of companies and enterprises $1,024 6.0

Utilities $1,526 2.2

Source: Missouri Economic Research and Information Center