The Ford CEO’s comments come amid ongoing debate about the U.S. skills gap and the future of manufacturing. In his public appearances, Farley has lamented the shortage of young Americans entering the skilled trades, a concern echoed by many business leaders and economists. Ford itself faces a shortfall of repair technicians, even as demand for new vehicles—and the maintenance of electric vehicles—continues to rise.
In conversation with Patel, Farley harkened back to this legacy and argued that the early 21st century isn’t so different from the early 20th, and America is facing a very big choice. “Now, we’re having critical issues. The average ambulance is 15 years old. We do not have enough emergency care people. Look at what firemen are having to go through in California with smoke and their own health.” There is a shortage for these “very dangerous jobs,” he argued, and “it’s going to affect all of us in a lot of annoying ways.”
