Shortage of Skilled Trade Workers

[Stealhead]

That depends though trades can pay well but the demand is lower there is no getting around that.I work in refrigeration myself and the guys I work with we cover a good part of FL,Southern GA,South AL,and even all the way into LA.We have to go that far to get clients and some places especially your commercial and residential AC companies in particular really struggle.

Some goes for electricians I know of more than one place that has had to lay of workers or cut hours.I also know plumbers mainly small operations things are down for those guys too people simply are not building homes and small business and similar projects anywhere near as much anymore.

Some of these skilled trade jobs are in advanced fields in precision machining for example steam turbine production things like this and there just are not that many people that have these skills out there part of the problem is that people do not know about these trades at all.

The goal of college football is not to send guys to the NFL many college football and other athletes have successful careers in what they earned their diplomas in.

@Armistead yes that does happen for some people but any business venture is a risk and may or may not pay off in the long term and can be effected by numerous factors some that you can control and others that you can not.A great example are residential AC companies for over 30 years the bread and butter for these folks was new construction that has gone and may take many years to come back full swing.

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

@Armistead yes that does happen for some people but any business venture is a risk and may or may not pay off in the long term and can be effected by numerous factors some that you can control and others that you can not.A great example are residential AC companies for over 30 years the bread and butter for these folks was new construction that has gone and may take many years to come back full swing.

i understand that better than most. The last company I had was a large commercial painting business. I started it when the large paint contractor I worked for decided to close down, but the economy was still good. My business boomed for the next four years. The last good year, I worked over 100 people and did about 8 million in total sales and paid myself over 200K. Then the economy seemed to die in months. Next thing I know multiple large contractors I worked for went bankrupt. One large one I worked for owed me over 200K on 3 jobs I was doing.In a matter of months I had to let go of all but 3 employees. The mistake I made was taking my life's savings and trying to pay everyone off, when I should've gone bankrupt like everyone else and opened up under a new name.

Still, millions lost their jobs working for others. You're always better off working for yourself. I could've gotten through it and came out, but started having health issues.

I guess I could've drawn disability or got unemployment, but we sold out and moved to my wife's hometown. It was tough, but we opened another business, a dog kennel and grooming shop. We can board about 100 dogs. No, we're not rich, but finally making money and it's a cheap town to live in and no one can fire us. I never liked the idea of another person being able to let me go.

[Wolferz]

Do you remember why it was an 80 hour course, August?

It doesn't take long to train someone to kiss their ass goodbye.

Bright flash of light----->

[August]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Do you remember why it was an 80 hour course, August?

It doesn't take long to train someone to kiss their ass goodbye.

Bright flash of light----->

Ha ha ha Stop, drop and cover!

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by Platapus

I would like to see Trade Schools receive the respect they deserve.

I fear that too many people assume that only poor students or the less capable attend Trade Schools.... as a last resort. After all, if they were capable they would go to college right?

I don't know what the solution is. But we need to find one and implement it!

You may want to check out the system in some Euro countries:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_education_system - one of the few things in my country which work reasonable well. German craftsmen still have a quite good rep in other European countries.

Here, during the apprenticeship you already get paid by the employer, not very much, usually in the range between 600-800€. Which is fair, as you already provide work, but on the other hand the apprentice isn't 5days/week at the company, has less experience and ties resources.
Our trade schools (never heard an American use the word "vocational school") are paid by the taxpayer, so contrary to the US there are no additional costs for this. Private trade schools do exist, but are not very common - most private schools here focus on college education, more money to be made there.

Originally Posted by Platapus

So just to throw the contentious grenade: Are unions helping or hurting the recognition of Trade Schools as a valuable and necessary contribution to our society?

So what's the general stance of American unions towards trade schools - and if they are opposed to it, what alternatives do they propose?

Originally Posted by Platapus

In my job, I have to look at a lot of resumes. It is amazing how different people evaluate resumes.

Take a person who has been with the same company for 20 years and is looking to relocate.

To me, this is a good thing. It shows me that he sticks with a company for the long term. I admire that in an applicant

To others, in my company, they don't like this. It shows a lack of initiative and a desire for staying in a rut.

Pretty interesting to someone looking to switch careers who had been 15 years in the same company. *shameless wink* You wouldn't love to provide feedback to someone's resumee who hasn't written one for quite a while?

[Wolferz]

Ha ha ha Stop, drop and cover!

Stop, drop and cover your weapon, you mean?.
When you went through, were they still teaching ass to the blast?
So the shock wave would rip your helmet off along with your head?


SAVE THE WEAPON!?!?

SCREW THAT! Armageddon outta here.


Apologies Armistead, we'll stop playing with the siding switches now.

[August]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Apologies Armistead, we'll stop playing with the siding switches now.

Lol. Some might call this a senior moment!