Ford's CEO, Jim Farley, warns about the skilled worker crisis in the U.S., mentioning that the company has 5,000 unfilled mechanic positions, despite attractive salaries.

Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford, discussed in a podcast the crisis of skilled workers in the manufacturing industry in the United States, highlighting the urgent need for education and vocational training. Ford currently has 5,000 auto mechanic positions available, with salaries of $120,000, but is struggling to find candidates. Farley pointed out that the problem is widespread across the industry, with over a million job vacancies in critical fields. He criticized the current educational system, which does not prepare young people for technical jobs, and emphasized the lack of vocational schools to provide adequate training. Although salaries have increased by 25% following the agreement with the United Auto Workers union, this has not led to a quick filling of the vacant positions. However, there are signs of change, with a 16% increase in enrollments in vocational schools amid the high costs of higher education. Generation Z is increasingly opting for vocational training over university studies, seeking well-paying jobs without accumulating debt.