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Crazy Job Market

What's the CMM job market like near you?

I live and work in the far northern outskirts of Chicago. There is a fair amount of industry around me, but there are typically only two or three CMM job openings at a time within my commuting area. Most of them are normally the same few jobs that nobody wants or they just don’t pay enough.

However, right now it seems like there are quite a few jobs available near me that I'd be happy to take if I didn't already have a good thing going. Also, where I work we have been down a CMM programmer for many months and recently lost two more who left for greener pastures. HR tells me that no one is even applying, let alone anyone with good qualifications! We are working to build talent from within, but it's going to take some time.

How about you?
Are you currently understaffed? Or should I say, more understaffed than usual?
Do you see a lot more job openings near you?
Am I the only one dumb enough to do this for a living? What am I missing here?
  • Where are you at Cris, Elk Grove here.


  • I am about 3 hours north of you. There is a position locally (same city) and a couple more within 50 miles. However, there is a lot of entry level quality tech positions open all over.


    That is what I find strange about what is going on right now in my area. There are lots of entry level jobs but also quite a few mid/senior level jobs. It's odd because I only know of one person near me who has recently retired from the trade. Otherwise people just seem to be shuffling around. At the same time, I don't know of many who are getting into CMM work. Not too many people seem interested. Also, most companies don't seem very interested in training beginners.
  • Around here it's the same 4 companies that have had the same jobs posted for a couple years. Not looking too hard, I'm completely and utterly burned out and sick of the quality bullsh!t, I say with all sincerity I'm considering driving Uber for the summer and seeing if I get the spark back. If not... who knows. Opening a B&B is sounding better everyday, or maybe I'll be a budtender when retail stores open. Maybe I'll open a weed club. All I know is I just don't want to do this anymore.

    Oh, this place is massively understaffed. There hasn't been a QE or QM in over a year, and they seem to think it's something I want to do. Even if I weren't burned out there's no way - people don't get that I only program these things coz I enjoy programming, but quality is a cesspool that I unfortunately have to be associated with coz of the job.


    I'm sorry your so burned out. I get it, I've been there. A little part of me is always there. Some days I'm all there, then I talk myself back a bit. The CMM stuff is fun, the rest can be quite trying.

    We had a fella leave us last year and quit CMM work all together. A great guy, very knowledgeable, and had a lot of fun stories from his years in the trade. But he just couldn't handle the BS anymore. He went on to write novels and start an apple orchard. He was thoroughly ready for a change. So, you aren't the only one.


  • I'm sorry your so burned out. I get it, I've been there. A little part of me is always there. Some days I'm all there, then I talk myself back a bit. The CMM stuff is fun, the rest can be quite trying.

    We had a fella leave us last year and quit CMM work all together. A great guy, very knowledgeable, and had a lot of fun stories from his years in the trade. But he just couldn't handle the BS anymore. He went on to write novels and start an apple orchard. He was thoroughly ready for a change. So, you aren't the only one.


    That is quite a change of pace...
  • I used to work in Elk Grove back in the early '80s, lived in Buffalo Grove. This after living in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It was like moving from the stone age to the jet age in the time it takes a U-haul to make the trip. I much preferred the stone age but now had 2 young babes to fend for and the UP $s weren't in the cards.
    I still miss the UP but the west shore north of Muskegon isn't too bad! How's Kirbster?
  • Kirbster, I had no Idea you were so close. I think your avatar threw me off. Did you move here from further west?
    I work in Wheeling, just a few towns over. I live pretty close to the Wisconsin border, so it is a bit of a commute.
  • 701 here wondering if I'll make it or drop dead a few shy.
  • 1631 days


    10,950-ish if I don't figure something else out.
  • Tking, I've got some family in the UP. I love going up there to visit, beautiful place and good people. I could certainly see the appeal of living there. But, as you say, it is hard to make it work financially. There just aren't many jobs.