East Moline Company Struggles Finding Workers

East Moline, IL -- A Quad City manufacturer says it has a different kind of problem during this recession. Lots of business and jobs they can't fill.

''We aren't seeing a recession at all, we've got plenty of jobs'', says Doug Widger, production manager at Production Cutting Services in East Moline.

The problem is, they have a shortage of workers. ''We'll train you what you need to know, you just have to come to work five days a week'', says office manager Beth Covemaker.

The company makes steel parts for John Deere equipment. Business is up about 45 percent. ''We were running almost a month late on our deliveries not because we don't have the machines, we don't have the people to run them'', Covemaker said.

On Friday, the company started advertising outside the Quad Cities, in the Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Bloomington, and Peoria markets to try and find more help.

The pay starts at 11 dollars an hour, with a raise at 90 days and six months. ''You should be making 14 dollars an hour at the end of one year'', Covemaker says.

There's health and prescription drug benefits, sick days, vacation, a 401K and profit sharing, but still, not enough takers.

''For us on the shop floor, attendance is a big problem'', Widger says. ''Guys we bring in have a hard time making it to work.''

''If you want to work, there's work, and other small manufacturers down the street are saying the same thing'', Covemaker said. ''If you're willing to work, take pride in what you do, we've got a job for you'', Covemaker said.