Our views: ; Public schools must listen to employers; Mathematics, vocational training are as needed as college preparation

IN a county where unemployment is just under 8 percent, it isdifficult to comprehend why excellent blue-collar jobs go unfilled -but some of them do.

That's because manufacturers in the area face a shortage ofskilled workers, Karen Price, president of the West VirginiaManufacturers Association, told students at the University ofCharleston Graduate School of Business.

"We have an aging population," Price said. "In the KanawhaValley, the entire work force for manufacturing is going to retire.Eighty to 100 jobs a year will need to be replaced in the chemicalindustry."

Manufacturers can find people with advanced degrees.

"Where we're having trouble is getting the skilled trades," shesaid. "We have kids coming out of high school who can't do simpleninth-grade math - kids who can't add two fractions with the samedenominator."

But it is not just general education students who struggle. About60 percent of college students must take remedial classes in theirfreshman year.

"This is not just in West Virginia," she said. "It's across thecountry. We think we need to start working with the school systems.We've never done that before. We've spoken to school counselors."

Not everyone should go to college. Many people make good money ascarpenters, plumbers, mechanics or chemical industry workers.

These skills are needed, and other states are taking steps tofill the need for them.

"We can't wait five years," she said. "Virginia and NorthCarolina are ahead of us. We've got to have the skills here.

"One of my members said: 'Don't worry about tax policy. If wedon't have skilled people here, they'll pull the production lineout.' "

This is a very real problem that the Legislature, schoolofficials and employers must address.