The skilled trades haven't caught as a career choice with Gen Z

Post by themitigating » Fri, Jan 06, 2023, 1:27 AM UTC

viraptor wrote: post #548

UncleMeat wrote: post #33

"We need more tradespeople" seems to be an evergreen news article. My brother in law is an electrician. He is paid alright, enough to live on. But there are HUGE downsides. He does not receive health insurance. He does not get paid vacation. In order to match decent white-collar pay, he needs to work overtime. His company pushes hard to get jobs finished fast, causing people to cut safety corners. Many of his coworke…

I feel like it's a weird situation when the pay is low, but there is overtime available and there's pressure to work fast. Why wouldn't a company raise prices, increase pay and slow down if there's more than a standard day of work available and customers ready/waiting? Is it more of industry issue or that specific company issue then?

Post by hinkley » Fri, Jan 06, 2023, 1:28 AM UTC

rybosworld wrote: post #503

"Youtube university" has most definitely had an effect. Particularly in regards to the lack of pay increase in the trades. My toilet is leaking? 10 years ago I'd call a plumber. Now I diagnose the problem and determine if it's within my skill level to learn the repair (it usually is). For me, this wouldn't be feasible without online how-to videos. A plumber/carpenter/electrician will charge me $50-$100/hr for work th…

Post by missedthecue » Fri, Jan 06, 2023, 1:30 AM UTC

vanderZwan wrote: post #264

WalterBright wrote: post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Every time I employ a tradesman to fix something around here, I get an astonishingly high bill.

The company sending you a high bill doesn't automatically mean the guy who fixed your house gets paid well though, does it?

Post by chx » Fri, Jan 06, 2023, 1:31 AM UTC

Karrot_Kream wrote: post #511

chx wrote: post #434

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the lack of elevator technicians, crane operators, industrial HVAC, PLC programmers, train conductors, air traffic controllers Blame Reagan. Seriously. I am not joking. Blame Reagan. These need to be union jobs. These used to be union jobs. For a more nuanced history read https://wwnorton.com/books/Invisible-Hands/

Is the argument here that unions are needed to guarantee minimum pay and benefits for these highly specialized jobs so that they feel safe enough to specialize? Wouldn't that depress effective wages for these techs and make the jobs as appealing as less skilled labor?

Post by t-writescode » Fri, Jan 06, 2023, 1:32 AM UTC

dragonwriter wrote: post #433

Raidion wrote: post #420

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a gradual shift that's no so gradual when looking at the block of population. Gen X are those that didn't have any digital connectivity while growing up. Millennials grew up connected through text/chat/email/very early social media, but without being constantly connected to the internet. Gen Z has grown up being connected and with information and entertainment available the time. Generations share a "core" of ex…

> Gen X are those that didn't have any digital connectivity while growing up. My (parents’) CompuServe and (due to living in the Central Valley but most of the BBS’s I had info on being in the Bay) phone bills fron the 1980s tell a very different story.