re: Why aren't kids getting into the trades anymore?

While not the sole reason, the prospect of automation advancements over the next couple of decades make a lot of skill based jobs seem like possible dead ends.

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Let me tell you what, your industry sucks that’s why nobody wants to do it.

Plain and simple.

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Man I hope you’re trolling. Construction is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable things I’ve ever been a part of both residential and commercial.

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What they fail for? Sure don’t hire crack/meth heads that are high on the job but if they are failing for weed....ahem you suck.

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Most business don't want to hire people with bad judgement. Those people end up costing the company more money than they bring in.

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What are they other than intangible comfort factors like it being cooler in the morning? The marginal benefits don’t outweigh the negatives IMO

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A ton of reasons.
1) If you are doing concrete work, weather and traffic are major factors. I can get in the details of the science behind concrete curing if you need me to.

2) There are potentially disruptive activities if you are working in an existing business or in a crowded city, you may be doing work that involves shutting down roads or people's businesses. When do you think this work is supposed to occur?

3) It is important for construction to be behind the early morning rush with the office people. We have deliveries and depending if you are working in a city parking and staging issues that are way easier to deal with at 6-7 in the morning.

4) Construction is not a bankers job where you go in at 9 and clock out at 5. Yes, you might have to work longer hours. Starting at 6 or 7 allows you to still get off at a reasonable time to be home with your family

5) Guys like getting off early for a number if reasons. Spend time with their family, or have things to do at home, or on side jobs.

6) I have been in this industry since I was 14, and have never met a legitimate worker who prefers going in late and staying in late. So it is what is preferred across the board.

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My son wants to pursue an engineering degree, but he's taking a welding class, a body shop class and an automotive class over the next three semesters, but also taking AutoCAD.

In the automotive class they are taking a 302 out of a Mustang, rebuilding it and reinstalling it.

These are all good classes to take to give him some skills experience. The school district has all kinds of trade classes for kids to take.

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ChE here took welding and shop class like working with my hands also. Most engineers are void of that ability your son would probably make a good one.

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have a good day sweeping the site baw.

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Nope, that won't be me, I am retired and will sit in front of the fire and play my guitar most of the day today.

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Because for the past 30+ years parents have harped on the “college or bust” train.

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Not just parents, but high school guidance counselors have done this too. I think there's a correlation to when government got in the student loan game.

I don't disagree with many of the reasons others have posted on why kids don't get into trades. I will say many of the ones I deal with hiring after 4-6yrs of school and advanced degrees also suck. Half of them get out of school and think they can run their entire new firm. They suck at taking constructive feedback and think work is no more than 40.0 hours on a timesheet. Then they think they aren't paid enough, so they job hop every 24 months picking up small raises each time. I'm lucky to have the great young folks I have now working for me, but I've had to weed through a bunch of failures.

Because getting a $75k Criminal Justice degree is better!

-Society

Illegal Mexicans have pretty much taken over the unlicensed trades.

Painting, drywall, carpenters and masons in Arkansas are predominantly Mexicans.
The few white men that I could hire were pretty much worthless dope heads that couldn't separate recreational use from 24/7 use.

Most of the young kids college or bust.

Biden has plans to bring your contractor plenty of Honduran young workers.

Unity and shite.