Pa. biz leaders: Corbett is right

YORK, Pa. - Business leaders say Gov. Corbett was right when he said Pennsylvania employers are having trouble finding prospective workers who can pass a drug test.

That was the consensus among members of several business groups who held a conference call last week to discuss challenges facing companies with open positions, according to the York Dispatch .

Taking part Thursday were the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the Pennsylvania Business Council, the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association and the National Federation of Independent Business.

"What the governor said is absolutely valid," said chamber president Gene Barr.

Federation state director Kevin Shivers said many employers are having trouble filling jobs despite the state's 8 percent unemployment rate.

"They don't have the skills, and drug testing is a problem," Shivers said.

David Taylor, executive director of the manufacturers' association, said the issue is of greatest concern in the manufacturing industry, where workers may deal with volatile chemicals, bladed instruments, extreme temperatures and other potentially hazardous conditions.