Good pay and job security—plus the opportunity to learn tech skills, such as robotics in some fields—are making occupations in vocational fields an attractive alternative to college and its ensuing debt. Additionally, some members of Generation Z are “drawn to the skilled trades because of their entrepreneurial potential,” The Wall Street Journal reported April 1.
-WiscoDave
Good luck competing against illegal immigrants in the trades. Here in Houston, GOOD FUCKING LUCK finding an English speaker at a construction site.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly why none of our contractors hire non English speaking workers. The gig is up.
DeleteConstruction sites aren't the only source of tradesmen, buddy.
DeleteOne of the illegals interviewed at the border is a pipe fitter or maybe a millwright!
DeleteSkilled trades may be hard dirty work but that means you can never be replaced by a dot-indian in a phone center or an AI app... Eventually you can be your own boss and pick your customers too.
ReplyDeletei worked in the trades for 40 yrs. it was not glamorous, it was mostly hot and dirty when it was not freezing cold outside. but i made a very good living doing it, i provided well for my family and was able to pay off everything i had and put back a good retirement. most people are afraid of hard work, people are afraid to get dirty, but it does have many long term benefits if a person takes an interest in it.. like say learning the business and starting your own.
ReplyDeletehard physical work is what built this country.
This ^^^ Went out with 42 years in. I get to pick and choose when, where, and what I want to do now.
DeleteSkilled labor isn't cheap and cheap labor isn't skilled.
Yup. This season we have 4 GenZ kids on our job. 3 of them are solid. I've got 2 on my crew and 1 of them is a little weak but otherwise serviceable. They all have strong work ethics. For a few years we weren't getting any new talent. It's looking pretty good lately though. I don't feel like I'm wasting my time teaching these kids anyway.
ReplyDeleteTalk about an honorable thing to do. Teaching a willing young person a valuable skill and mentoring them along the way. I think you'll be as rewarded as they will be.
DeleteI consider a skilled trade more honorable than a college degree in such things as gender studies or some other such nonsense.
ReplyDeleteWe have 3 HS kids coming to the shop this afternoon for exactly this. It's a real thing.
ReplyDeleteApprentice with a skilled professional for cheap.
ReplyDeleteFollow the pro's school recommendations, if any.
Become a pro and find a worthy apprentice yourself.
I’m a lineman and make a quarter mil a year.
ReplyDeleteGoing to college is retarded.
My cousin’s husband was a lineman for 35 years. He retired and they own a big house and about 50 acres back home in East Tennessee.
DeleteEntrepreneurial potential.....I thought the collective programing was guaranteed and capitalism would be anathema to this generation?
ReplyDeleteI have a 26 year old plumber working for me making $125,000 per year and drives around in a company truck that's $80,000 not counting tools.
ReplyDeleteI also have a 26 year old mechanical engineer working for me making $80,000 per year with a shit-load of college debt.
Don't knock the trades, ever.
Mike Rowe nails it.
My nephew did the blue collar tei-fecta. he got a lacrosse scholarship to a snooty expensive college and did that for a year, blew out his knee and required surgery before the season started and didnt fit in at all,
ReplyDeletehe did HVAC for a year and got tired of dealing with the customers and became certified welder and did that for a year and then went to the nearby community college for their CDL class, and got recruited by a company that does heavy haul oversize loads , the shipper requires a background check on the drivers , requires a spotless credit criminal and driving record. 27 of the 30 students in the class were not even eligible to fill out the application because of their criminal records and car repossesions etc.
He's 24 and earned $97K last year.