Not so long ago, the biggest problem in the job market was that there weren’t jobs for the American worker. Now many employers are complaining that they are unable to fill many jobs. In other words, the job market is weak in many areas, but tight in various job sectors.

Stephen Moore provides one estimate that there are 30,000-35,000 trucker jobs that could be filled if workers would take these jobs. Domino’s Pizza says that the franchises around the country are having a hard time filling delivery and clerical positions.

Why are we having this problem? Stephen Moore has a few answers. First, we have government programs that often discourage work. I have talked about this in previous commentaries. We should be helping those who cannot work, but should we be enabling people who have little motivation to work? We have record numbers of people on food stamps, disability, and other welfare benefits. Does that discourage work? I think we all know the answer to that question.

Second, we have a public school system that fails to teach students basic skills. He asks, “Whatever happened to shop classes?” In past radio programs, I have talked with Tom Pauken who served as the Chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission. He argued that we should be teaching kids who weren’t planning on going to college skills that they could use in the workforce. Today, mechanics, carpenters, and technicians can make good wages.

That leads to a third reason jobs can’t be filled today. Our culture has developed negative attitudes toward blue-collar work. Parents are often disappointed if their kids want to become electricians, plumbers, or craftsmen instead of going to college.

Finally, we have a cultural bias against young adults working. The labor participation rate is falling faster among workers under 30. Government policies, like frequently raising the minimum wage, often keep young people from working and developing a skill.

We have jobs that aren’t being filled. We need to change public policies and cultural attitudes if we are to turn this around.