I'll chime in have been out of pocket for a while,lot's happening around here.

I visited the Tool and Die business I sold in 97 last week. It was the first time I had visited since selling. The shop foreman and one machinist were all that was still with the company. The machinist was an apprentice when I was still owner.I left with an apprentice program that I had set up in the area with local companies and ACC our local community College.

To my surprise the program had been withdrawn. I set this program up because we were having a problem finding good machinist. The forman said the program died because of lack of interest from the potential local labor pool.

A lot has changed in the last 15 years,most want to start at the top and the old school of starting out at the bottom and working up is history. As stated , trades are going,going, and gone. Sad but true.