At least one million American jobs were left unfilled this year as contractors searched for people qualified to work at good paying blue collar jobs. As parents and guidance counselors steer young people to attend college, only four percent of high school students pursue careers in technical fields. Focus groups held by the National Association of Manufacturers with young adults have found they have a ?hostile, negative stereotype? of manufacturing jobs.
See "Looking for Mr. Goodwrench", Kimberly Blanton, The Boston Globe, November 22, 2004