The plea is the same for every skilled trade industry: “We need qualified workers.” And it’s been going on for a while. It’s not just in the security industry; this is true for electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, and construction workers. And it’s not just the workers in the field; staffing in all departments, such as marketing, product development, operations, and management is an ongoing challenge. It’s difficult to fill open positions with knowledgeable and trained people at companies, including manufacturers, distributors, and other firms serving an industry.
It’s relatively easy to figure out why the security industry is facing these problems — the majority of current workers at all levels are in a limited group of older, white males. I’m not passing judgment here. It’s the truth and I’ve seen it for 30 years as I’ve walked trade show floors and visited job sites. And yes, I’ve been discriminated against for being female. I remember 25 years ago when I heard builders say, “It scares me when Helen shows up on a job site with a tool belt on.” No matter that I was experienced, certified, and licensed.