Mike Rowe and Skilled Trades in America

[billybek]

I thought that this video was outstanding.
Mike Rowe's (Dirty Jobs) insight on how most of North America values so called higher education has resulted in a serious shortage of qualified trades people is very interesting.
It is a bit long, but give it a watch.
Without parfing it up let it be known what you think.

[widgeon13]

Good message. I've always enjoyed completing a dirty job and getting something working again.

[M.D. Holloway]

As someone who has spent time in many of the plants he has I have to take my hat off to the guy. Mind you, he does make most tasks look more difficult than they are but he does show sugnificant respect to the folks whpo have to do the shyt end of the stick...

(The guy has a great singing voice BTW)

[Tervuren]

Can't watch the vid, but I'd probably agree.

My generation fails to realize how much fun actually making something really is, once you build your body up past the sore muscles or get used to grime.

[GH85Carrera]

I totally agree with his message. I know there is so much pressure to send kids to college for a degree. I hear of people graduating with huge student loans and can't find a job. Not everyone's brain is wired for that. My wife's nephew never tried the degree route. He went looking for a trade job. He is now a crane operator making a decent living.

There will always be a need for a tradesman. One reason I fix 98% of the stuff around my house is I enjoy getting the job done.

[VaSteve]

No. The only path to a survivable financial future and a comfortable existance is a college degree.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Tervuren

Can't watch the vid, but I'd probably agree.

My generation fails to realize how much fun actually making something really is, once you build your body up past the sore muscles or get used to grime.

You didn't miss much. He read a speech. He didn't even sound like someone who has a TV show. I could have done that.

[daepp]

John Ratzenberger (Cliffy from Cheers) is a big advocate of the manual arts and restoring them to schools. His website is Center for America

He tells a great story about being at Woodstock in '69. Yeah, as a carpenter he helped build the stage. And he reminds anyone who'll listen that if they were there they should thank a National Guardsmen, as they kept everyone fed.

[island911]

won't anyone think of the illegal Mexicans - doing the jobs Americans won't do^TM . . .

[Superman]

I have been in the labor-side of the construction industry for more than twenty years. I have made presentations to high school kids where I begin by asking "How would you like a job making $20 per hour from the first day with full benefits?" Hands go up. "how 'bout if we give you a raise each six months until you are making $40+ per hour, again full benefits?" Hands stay up.

Then I tell them they can virtually have their pick of more than a dozen skilled crafts such as Sheet Metal Worker, Plumber, Electrician, Power Equipment Operator, Carpenter, Plasterer, etc., I lose them. None of them are willing to work with dungarees on. They all want to be beta testers for the newest video games.

Schools are a difficult as students. Schools have virtually no interest in shepherding kids toward trade work. They think everyone is going to college. Well.......everyone is NOT going to college and guess what else......When their plumbing gets plugged up, they are going to PAY THROUGH THE NOSE to those few who decided to "work" for a living.

[Zeke]

With public colleges now at $8000 per year if you live at home, I see reason to explore the trades. But will they?

When I was in welding school as a hobbyist, I saw a lot of young guys headed into that field. There is a shortage of certified welders. But, inside work pays 20 bucks and outside some more. Benefits are weak, work is not always steady and it's damn hard work.

I really don't think there's enough attraction for that. And after 30 years at age 50 you'll feel like that short stub of burned rod on the ground. Then what, carry mail? If we want excellent tradespeople, we need to recognize them.

[patssle]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

Good message. I've always enjoyed completing a dirty job and getting something working again.

Sure, it's fun to do manual labor here and there for side projects and hobbies. But to do it for an entire career, where most manual labor is mindless and backbreaking? You'll probably regret it later in life.

Some people will do it because they love it. Others will do it because they have to.

[A930Rocket]

He had a talk that's on TED I think was interesting about the same subject. Saw it a few years ago.

The concept holds very true.

[Jrboulder]

The way I see it it's more than a shortage of tradesmen but rather a total shift of people who are persuing a career they shouldn't be. Of my HS class 92% went to college. Of those a very large portion are studying engineering. A lot of the people I know who are studying engineering really shouldn't be engineers. They are studying engineering because they did well at math and it's a pretty well paying career. The same goes for a lot of other fields of study. Most people are going into other careers than they should be (like a plummer or even a teacher) because they don't want to be "blue collar" or work their a$$ off for 40k/year. I've been told by almost everyone I know that I should be an engineer however I'm studying economics.

My cousin decided to not go to college. He makes $15/hr working light constuction. His sister went to college and now she works at Home Depot as an appliance salesperson, for probably less than $15/hr.

Jackson

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Superman

They all want to be beta testers for the newest video games.

Until they are actually given the chance and find out how absolutely mundane and mind numbingly boring it really is.

Most don't last a month.

[Danimal16]

I agree, the trades are so needed. As an engineer by profession and education, the BEST engineers I EVER met were tradesmen. I envy them as they can see the results of their efforts. I understand that the arts and music are not given the attention in public schools as they once were, as well. It is a shame.

[quicksix]

so,one could make some money by opening a trade school?

[billybek]

Originally Posted by patssle

Sure, it's fun to do manual labor here and there for side projects and hobbies. But to do it for an entire career, where most manual labor is mindless and backbreaking? You'll probably regret it later in life.

Some people will do it because they love it. Others will do it because they have to.

I think you are missing the difference between manual labour and a skilled trade.
Perhaps there is no difference?

[billybek]

Originally Posted by quicksix

so,one could make some money by opening a trade school?

Yes.

[billybek]

Originally Posted by Zeke

If we want excellent tradespeople, we need to recognize them.

You are absolutely correct.

Just don't expect to get them at Walmart prices.