At 30 I I was ten years into crawling in 120 degree attics on my hands and knees installing air conditioning.

I did not see my body being able to handle that after 40 so I went to tech school.

I think you meant to say pizza delivery?


IMHO as others have said the "go to college and get a better job" mantra (that was preached to me back when I graduate high school in 1975) has been beat to death.

I can only hope/expect the law of supply/demand will take over and tradesmen will make a comeback.

Not if North Americans insist on getting labor at Walmart prices.

There will always be building so there will always be a need for good tradesmen. I know a lot of them, and there is good money to be made. The toughest positions to fill are the project manager type or field supt. You need someone who knows the field aspect but also has the patience and understanding to handle the paperwork, meetings, etc. If one comes up strictly through an educational/office scenario and is put in that type of position, they are often inept, and/or disregarded as they have no real world experience. I have heard some unbelievably idiotic comments come from "managers" mouths which have zero applicability in the field. A good field supt. or PM is worth their weight in gold. They are few and far between. Finding good tradesmen can be tough, but fortunately, the lazy, constant cell-phone/texting types seem to NOT be drawn into the trades, those folk will be the ones paying the tradesmen to unclog their sink, hang drywall, install a hot water tank, and change their brake pads.

I guess it depends on a lot of things. Not everyones college experiences and job opportunities work out the same

UGH! Been there... done that. Part of the reason I no longer do HVAC.
How about the crawl space where the floor joist is touching your nose and the only way to go from back to belly is by getting between the joists? I REALLY don't miss those days.

Long before that Rodney Dangerfield "Back to College" movie, I was in a college class of my Construction Engineering degree requirements. The Prof lectured the class one day about what size excavator was required for a dirt pit at X distance away from the project with Y number of dump trucks to keep a continuous and efficient operation. Unlike most if not all in the class, I had spent my previous summers of high school.....in heavy highway construction.

So when the Prof got done with his lecture, I raised my hand and suggested "this is all fine and dandy, but what are you going to do when all the truck drivers stop at the same café for coffee?"

I think I passed that class.

Exactly

Yeah .
A lot of guys my age can only work at most 6 months of the year .

The other 6+ they surf and smoke weed , whilst getting nearly 1200 a week for it :eek:

A corporate gig might leave one physically intact.....but sucks the life out of your soul :(.

Amen to that. I love my industry but the corporate profit above all else mentality certainly makes me question certain life choices. As a teen I was doing remodeling during the day and small handyman type projects on the evenings and weekends for $35/hr 20 years ago. If you are honest and do quality work, there will always be demand. In hindsight I could have done reasonably well for myself in that area, and it certainly would have removed certain frustrations.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1509626050.jpg

My middle son was lost for a bit, recovering addict etc. Now he's in an 18 month welding school, will end up with all the certifications, most grads go to Newport News or the like. We had a 529 for him for college, but I think really this is the best choice he could have made.

glad you got him back Greg!!!

I left out the part "crawling on my hands and knees through fiberglass insulation in a 120 degree attic."

Back on topic, as was said there will always be construction so we will always need trades. Frankly I'm surprised more young people are not passing up on a college degree with huge student debt to go into a saturated market Vs a trade tech cert and a line of employers waiting to hire grads.

I have a friend that is a tile guy and does well $$. He is in his late 50's and now uses young laborers for demo work, carrying stuff, mixing mud, and cleanup. He does the layouts, snaps the lines, and sets the tile. He also collects the money. I don't think he broke into the 6 figure income barrier but he's creative, having fun, and little/zero work stress.

I took electrical tech., 2 year assoc. degr. I worked that trade for 1 year then got into drafting el. circuits which led to an eng. opportunity. That was 30 yrs. ago & even then I chose to leave the trade for a 'nicer title'. Now today, I truly think everyone wants that 'nicer title'. Unfortunately, they won't get it. Today's uth. needs to realize it takes work to get that cushy job.

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How? It sounds like your prof's problem went right over your head.

I am in this industry. I regulate wages for trade labor on public works. I would not hesitate to steer a young person toward the trades. These jobs can't be outsourced. Good wages and bennies. Young people don't want these jobs. I expect demand, and wages, will rise. Right now, the industry is clamoring for people willing to choose this path. Full employment. 20+/hour to start, plus bennies.

Full time journey plumbers and electricians will earn 150K+. Sheet Metal and Elevator Constructors...more than that.

I know more millionaires who drive pick ups than drive Porsches.