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In Ohio, inmates in the Mansfield and Richland correctional institutions are being trained to climb cellphone towers and install and repair equipment needed for broadband and 5G internet access. This program is part of the infrastructure rebuilding efforts that President Joe Biden has been pushing for as part of his re-election campaign. The state and industry officials are facing a shortage of workers as they prepare to receive 0 billion in federal infrastructure funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

With unemployment at historic lows, employers are struggling to find workers to fill the hundreds of thousands of jobs that will be created by the federal spending. They are turning to alternative pools of talent or groups that have been previously untapped. However, finding and training enough workers will be crucial for achieving the ambitious infrastructure goals set by the Biden administration.

The construction industry, in particular, is facing a shortage of skilled workers such as welders, electricians, and broadband technicians. The retirement of baby boomers from the industry and a lack of new workers entering the trades is exacerbating this shortage. The construction worker shortage is causing concerns of project delays and increased costs due to higher wages and material costs.

The Biden administration sees the competition among workers and wage increases as a positive sign. They hope that the jobs created by the infrastructure plan will come with good pay, benefits, and worker protections. The administration is also implementing policies to encourage the hiring of unionized workers and ensuring that the workforce comes from the communities where the projects are being built.

To address the shortage of workers, the administration is working with local governments and employers on various programs aimed at building up the workforce through training and apprenticeship programs. They are also focusing on bringing more women and people of color into the workforce and recruiting workers from lower-income areas.

In the broadband internet sector alone, an additional 23,000 to 35,000 workers will be needed to meet the increased demand. These workers will be necessary to expand access to high-speed internet across the country. The federal funds will play a crucial role in rebuilding the country’s infrastructure and creating jobs, but filling these positions remains a challenge.

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