Demand grows for middle-skill jobs
Technology and automation will continue to make some jobs obsolete at Southern California’s ports and air hubs, but they’re also creating openings for well-paying, mid-skill occupations, a new report finds.
The study, compiled by Los Angeles County’s Economic Development Corp. and the Centers of Excellence for Labor Market Research, shows that more than half the workers in the region’s portrelated industries are over age 45, while nearly 27% are over 55. That will fuel a significant wave of retirements over the next decade.
Blue-collar to white-collar
Route optimization, automated terminals and cranes, energy management and capacity-sensing technology are rapidly becoming the norm at ports throughout the world.
Such automation is increasing efficiency, safety and sustainability, but it’s also fueling a shift from blue-collar work toward more digitally minded white-collar jobs where workers oversee automated activities rather than perform the labor themselves.
A network of community colleges in L.A. and Orange counties is offering a broad range of shortterm programs aimed at teaching new skills to displaced workers and funneling younger students into these jobs.
The classes are designed to prepare students for jobs in such portrelated industries as international business, logistics, materials transportation and advanced transportation technology, among others.
‘You can’t be what you don’t know’
Ruth Amanuel, regional director of the global trade sector for the L.A. region of the California Community College system, said much of her job is creating awareness of the kinds of openings that are out there.
“You can’t be what you don’t know,” Amanuel said. “Most students are not even aware of these jobs. My job is to create awareness about the industry itself.”
The report predicts there will be 30,540 annual openings in 11 entry-level and target occupations in the coming years. But the number of students completing relevant programs has fallen short of industry demand.
Entry-level and mid-skill positions
Entry-level openings will be available for shipping, receiving and traffic clerks, crane and tower operators, and stock and material movers. Some of those positions have few or no educational requirements and pay lower wages, while others pay well.
Shipping, receiving and traffic clerks, for example, earned an average hourly wage of $13.38 in 2019. But entry-level crane and tower operators averaged $25.25 an hour.
Eight other “pathway” occupations require more than a high school education and pay above the living wage. They include:
• Electricians
• Industrial machinery mechanics
• Avionics technicians
• Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
• Cargo and freight agents
• Transportation inspectors
• Transportation, distribution and storage managers
• Logisticians
The average hourly wage for electricians in 2019 was $23.59, and the average for transportation, distribution and storage managers was $34.25 an hour, although the latter also requires five years of experience.
“The electrical program is pretty popular at community colleges because students can find jobs quickly,” said Luke Meyer, director of the L.A./Orange County region for the Centers of Excellence for Labor Market Research, based at Mt. San Antonio College. “They can work in a variety of industries or be self employed.”
Programs range from a shortterm certificate that can be obtained in a year to a two-year associate’s degree.
“The labor market demand is so great it’s hard for these programs to keep up,” Meyer said. “These classes could stand to have more students.”