Loss of trades people.

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

SF VIP
Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
Watching a 1957 TV show, and the guy says to his wife to call a plumber, and get a quote, and if it's over $10, tell him to forget it. In 2023, it costs a $100 for plumber just to come to the house. And today, you can get an appt. with a doctor earlier than you can with an electrician or plumber. My furnace died in February, 2019 and I had to wait 3 days to get a repairman. And he told me, he only had 3 hours of sleep in 48 hours nonstop fixing furnaces. We are loosing trades people. That hurts.
 

fuzzybuddy said:
Watching a 1957 TV show, and the guy says to his wife to call a plumber, and get a quote, and if it's over $10, tell him to forget it. In 2023, it costs a $100 for plumber just to come to the house. And today, you can get an appt. with a doctor earlier than you can with an electrician or plumber. My furnace dies in February, 2019 and I had to wait 3 days to get a repairman. And he told me, he only had 3 hours of sleep in 48 hours nonstop fixing furnaces. We are loosing trades people. That hurts.
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Yes and it got so much worse during the pandemic and since then. When a garbage disposal broke down I could not even get a plumber to come so eventually had to get a handy man. Remember those? Couldn't get an electrician either. So I know what you mean. Tradespeople are disappearing.
 
Paco Dennis said:
Older workers in the skilled trades are retiring and not enough young people are training to take their jobs. The application rate for technical jobs like plumber or electrician dropped by 49% between 2020 and 2022.
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Think you’ve hit the nail on the head with this one. Too bad some of these folks wouldn’t compare the cost of the education for the trades vs the cost for university which doesn’t guarantee a job at the end.

Do they have apprenticeship programs anymore?

They need to offer the training starting in high school.
 
We also have a cultural problem. For quite a while now these occupations have been mocked and generally treated disrespectfully in mass media caricatures. Kids are naturally going to feel social pressure to go into something else, even if they have inclinations and talents in such areas.
 
Paco Dennis said:
Older workers in the skilled trades are retiring and not enough young people are training to take their jobs. The application rate for technical jobs like plumber or electrician dropped by 49% between 2020 and 2022.
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Including lack of employees signing up for military. Our military has even lowered the standards for joining. Recruits & pilots can now have beards and long hair but people still aren’t applying like they used to. It’s a shame.
 
The average income of tradespeople and college graduates varies depending on the job and location. According to a report by NewScholarsHub, the average salary for trade school graduates is $53,000 per year. However, salaries can range from $17,000 to $94,500 depending on the job and location. On average, a trade school graduate will make about $42,000 per year. Trade school graduates also enter the workforce two years earlier, thereby getting an extra two years worth of salary

The average starting salary for college graduates is $55,260 per year as of 2020

Not a lot of difference. Probably trade jobs are going to be increasing in demand also.
 
There are ample journeyman plumbers, electricians, roofers, welders, carpenter, HVAC experts, etc., in my area.

They're expensive to hire, but isn't that appropriate and to be expected? Skilled tradespeople deserve to earn a good living; they have bills, too.

Using an inflation calculator, $10 in 1957 is equivalent to $109.26 today.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
Including lack of employees signing up for military. Our military has even lowered the standards for joining. Recruits & pilots can now have beards and long hair, but people still aren’t applying like they used to. It’s a shame.
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This doesn't necessarily hold true for the Marines. There are some, (but very few) exceptions to these rules. Until I retired, I wore my hair high and tight. You have probably heard that expression before. (Females would be an exception.)

As for Marine pilots, can you imagine trying to cover your whole mouth and nose with a mask? I am pretty sure that the USAF has a ban on beards, at least for pilots. When I wore my mask, I put it on as tight as possible. I wish they had a small unit for when we jumped out of the plane, not ejected, but just jump. That first gulp of air always seemed to choke me and I never understood why. Do any of you know? It was a horrible feeling. Almost like you can't breathe.
 
Paco Dennis said:
The average income of tradespeople and college graduates varies depending on the job and location. According to a report by NewScholarsHub, the average salary for trade school graduates is $53,000 per year. However, salaries can range from $17,000 to $94,500 depending on the job and location. On average, a trade school graduate will make about $42,000 per year. Trade school graduates also enter the workforce two years earlier, thereby getting an extra two years worth of salary

The average starting salary for college graduates is $55,260 per year as of 2020

Not a lot of difference. Probably trade jobs are going to be increasing in demand also.
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My son joined the Pipe-Fitters Union when he was 19 and took classes and an apprenticeship through them. After 5 years he was earning about $60K/year. Currently, he makes well over $100K.
 
I know they have HVAC apprenticeships because my friend's grandson is working on one. Machinists and welders, I don't know about those guys. With so much automation today, I would thing we would need fewer of those types of jobs. Electrician apprenticeships are also available right now and I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see more hiring in that field. I would give being an electrician a chance. I like messing with electric stuff, except when I get shocked. I got shocked by a 220-volt line once and 3 of my fingers turned black and my heart began to race.
 
Been There said:
I know they have HVAC apprenticeships because my friend's grandson is working on one. Machinists and welders, I don't know about those guys. With so much automation today, I would thing we would need fewer of those types of jobs. Electrician apprenticeships are also available right now and I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see more hiring in that field. I would give being an electrician a chance. I like messing with electric stuff, except when I get shocked. I got shocked by a 220-volt line once and 3 of my fingers turned black and my heart began to race.
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Apprenticeships are still offered through trades unions...

and at this website: mikeroweWORKS Foundation
 
dilettante said:
We also have a cultural problem. For quite a while now these occupations have been mocked and generally treated disrespectfully in mass media caricatures. Kids are naturally going to feel social pressure to go into something else, even if they have inclinations and talents in such areas.
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Don M. said:
Todays young people don't seem to want to "get their hands dirty". If this trend continues, virtually every "blue collar" job will suffer, and the prices for such services will skyrocket.
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It's true that the working class/blue collar type of occupations have been mocked. And while it may be true that young people don't want to "get their hands dirty" by taking these types of occupations but that may well be because they've been told they should feel that way. Way back in the 60s when I was in high school, I overheard 2 of the teachers saying they were glad that our school no longer gave aptitude tests because "Why in the world would you even want to know that you were good at working with your hands?! You can't earn a living in a 'meatball' job!" (And you pretty much couldn't in that area even back then.)

And from what I've heard, the schools and the teaching profession have gotten even more and more that way. So kids have been hearing that for years; no wonder if they feel that way.
 
officerripley said:
It's true that the working class/blue collar type of occupations have been mocked. And while it may be true that young people don't want to "get their hands dirty" by taking these types of occupations but that may well be because they've been told they should feel that way. Way back in the 60s when I was in high school, I overheard 2 of the teachers saying they were glad that our school no longer gave aptitude tests because "Why in the world would you even want to know that you were good at working with your hands?! You can't earn a living in a 'meatball' job!" (And you pretty much couldn't in that area even back then.)

And from what I've heard, the schools and the teaching profession have gotten even more and more that way. So kids have been hearing that for years; no wonder if they feel that way.
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"Work smart, not hard"

That phrase was on a poster in my son's school counselor's office. The image on the poster was a young guy in a university graduation cap & gown, gripping a college degree in his fist, wearing a big smile and various honors cords, pins, and colors.

That poster totally inspired my son ....to drop out in his senior year and enlist in the navy. This is the same son making over $100K/year, mentioned in post #14.
 
Been There said:
I know they have HVAC apprenticeships because my friend's grandson is working on one. Machinists and welders, I don't know about those guys. With so much automation today, I would thing we would need fewer of those types of jobs. Electrician apprenticeships are also available right now and I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see more hiring in that field. I would give being an electrician a chance. I like messing with electric stuff, except when I get shocked. I got shocked by a 220-volt line once and 3 of my fingers turned black and my heart began to race.
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One of our grand-daughters fiancé graduated from an Electrical school, gained his apprenticeship and had a job immediately. It's been a couple of years now and he's still employed by the same company. Enjoys the work and plans to continue.
 
Jules said:
Think you’ve hit the nail on the head with this one. Too bad some of these folks wouldn’t compare the cost of the education for the trades vs the cost for university which doesn’t guarantee a job at the end.

Do they have apprenticeship programs anymore?

They need to offer the training starting in high school.
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Here you go. B.C. apprenticeship training program for carpentry. Carpentry, Apprenticeship, Full-time (3230APPR) - BCIT

Plumbers. link. Plumber, Apprenticeship, Full-time (4160APPR) - BCIT

Welders. link. Welder Apprentice

AS you can see I searched specifically for programs in the Province where you live. Each of the Provinces and Territories have their own training programs for skilled trades. Once a person is certified in a particular trade in a Province, they can apply to sit the Red Seal Certificate Program. Once they have their Red Seal Certificate, they can work anywhere in Canada. Skills mobility is important . JImB.
 
We do have trade programs offered to students in high schools here in Florida. These programs are organized by the Dept. Of Education and businesses. The students learn and get practical training in the field that they choose.
The demands are mainly in construction, automotive, HVAC and healthcare field.
We definitely need skilled workers. These programs are gaining quite a lot of positive attention lately. It gives students opportunities at a promising future.
 
I have been fortunate to find a plumbing company that gives very good service. When my water heater sprung a leak, they came the same day and installed a new one in 3 hours. They have several plumbers and about half a dozen trucks filled with spare parts, so there's no running back and forth to a parts supplier.
 
Chet said:
I have been fortunate to find a plumbing company that gives very good service. When my water heater sprung a leak, they came the same day and installed a new one in 3 hours. They have several plumbers and about half a dozen trucks filled with spare parts, so there's no running back and forth to a parts supplier.
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Chet, for some strange reason, they never had my part on their truck. :unsure:
 
Paco Dennis said:
Older workers in the skilled trades are retiring and not enough young people are training to take their jobs. The application rate for technical jobs like plumber or electrician dropped by 49% between 2020 and 2022.
Click to expand...
I don't think younger people want these jobs because they actually would have to work and it might be gross. They want something they can piddle with their phones with all day.
 
Don M. said:
Todays young people don't seem to want to "get their hands dirty". If this trend continues, virtually every "blue collar" job will suffer, and the prices for such services will skyrocket.
Click to expand...
They already are. How many young people do you know who want to be housekeepers in a hospital for example? Instead we do the job of 3 or 4 people in one day more days a week than not. Eventually nobody will be there to do it.
 

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