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

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I will say this, I’m younger and own a trade-type business and work very hard, but waking up at 4 AM to go to work needs to die with your generation. It’s unhealthy as shite, leads to lost productivity, and there’s no reason for it. I’m a morning person now but when I was 22 I would’ve been so much better at my jobs if I could’ve slept until 8:30 or later then put in a hard arse day’s work until 6 or 7 and everyone would’ve been better off for it.

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Go to bed earlier.

Problem solved

Video games(entertainment addiction) and cannabis.
They can not communicate let alone figure out how to just keep moving!

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We ended up having to hire an older fella who came out of retirement from another job because he was bored. Still can't fill the other positions

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My older buddy is a master electrician...came out of retirement because the money was too good...

Can literally name his price on a tight deadline/expedited need.

Otherwise pulls between 85-105/ hr.

Starting pay to apprentice with him is 12 bucks an hour for a few months...bumps to 20 at 2 months. Gradual increase to 55 bucks/hr over 7 years.

Trying to get my 15 y/o to start for him this summer...say frick college, take over my bro's business and just pay him in 10 years.

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When pensions became obsolete, loyalty did too.

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Repercussions of this are just now showing up in the workforce full force. People bounce from job to job for a dollar more here and there, oftentimes in different roles/industries. Knowledge/competence has been diluted, especially in the specialized trades.

True. Most major cities have a 7:00am-6:00pm Mon-Fri noise ordinance anyway.

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

Plain and simple.

Have fun with your miserable lives.

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I'm guessing the same can be said with fast food workers, dumbass, but I'm sure you're out there squealing for $15 for them.

I'll go with your logic. Install robots and kiosks to take and prepare orders, eliminate as many of those positions as possible. Since it's an industry problem, right...?

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50407Tiger

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You sound like some construction workers nailed your woman.

I'm late to this thread but I'll chime in. This is TLDR so be warned.

I'm 50 and grew up working in my fathers construction business and now I'm an Engineer. I've made my living with tools before and been a carpenter/electrician/Pipefitter/Operator/Foreman/Superintendent.

Why the commercial trades tend not to attract good help and are mostly taken over by Mexicans:

1) VERY FEW if any hourly trade jobs include any benefits in this region. You're setting yourself up to live paycheck to paycheck unless you move up to Supervision. Maybe up North in a good paying Union job you might do well but down South I rarely hear of any type of benefits for hourly workers. The unions failed miserably in the South and from what I have seen the merit organizations (ABC around here) have not flourished widely either and are mainly industrial.

2) Related to the above. No health insurance. While you're making $25/hr as a journeyman carpenter or whatever you then get to depend on Charity hospital for your health care. Most married guys I knew had to have a working spouse at a hospital or something just so they and their kids could have health insurance. And no, Obamacare didn't fix shite.

3) Many people that run construction businesses are not ethical. It is a very cutthroat business and not conducive to many businesses staying open long term with steady work. Can't move up without steady work and whatever long term goodwill you have evaporates when the place goes tits up.

4) Now if you can pass a drug test and you live around BR you will end up at a plant or industrial and the rates are better and some tradespeople have benefits. Commercial can't compete and typically gets the guys who can't pass a drug test or are illegals.

5) Work can often be cyclical and weather dependent. Get a rain day during the week and your Saturday is Fricked. If it rains the weekend you're just SOL with a short paycheck. The OT in the "good times" never seems to make up for it.

6) If you're good with your hands and mechanically inclined a mechanic can be a much better trade. Indoor work, many have benefits, higher hourly rates, etc. Tons of auto techs knock back 80k plus but they have to hustle to do it.

With all of that said there are ways to make a living at it.

-Some of the technical trades (electrician, HVAC, etc.) can attract good rates and benefits in some areas.

-Move up to supervision or management and rates get better and maybe get benefits.

-Work like a machinist/manufacturing/fab shop is a good thing as the rates are better and many times work is indoors. Downside is a long apprenticeship/learning phase.

-Start your own crew or business. A lot of people do pretty well making specialty items or crafts and sell them online/ebay/etsy if you like to work with your hands.

I like Mike Rowe and I support the trades but unless we find a way to make the trades a career instead of an hourly job with no benefits you will not attract people in general.

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You sound like some construction workers nailed your woman.

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That dude never been laid.