Shortage of over 100,000 tradespeople

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Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,827
13,892
126
www.anyf.ca
http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.1206004 (video)

I knew there was a shortage of tradespeople but did not realize it was this high. Definitely something good to go to school for these days.

I got lucky and I have a really good job related to computers/technology but if I lost it, I'd be in trouble as there's not really much out there as far as IT and other technology related jobs. Trades is probably my fallback if I did lose my job. I'd probably try to specialize, and perhaps go as electrician, maybe plumbing too.

With my current job I have lot of time off, I've actually given it some thought on taking an electrical apprenticeship so I can get my hours and get my cert. I think I know enough that I'd be able to pretty much learn what I don't know on the job with the help of another electrician.

Of course it's easier said than done, it's nice to just sit back and home and not do much on my days off, when my current job pays well. :laughing:
 
Mixolydian

Mixolydian

Lifer
Nov 7, 2011
14,566
91
91
gilramirez.net
trades are in high demand all over right now. im in the electrical field (not technically an apprentice yet) and its amazing how many jobs ar needed. I think a lot if it has to with society - we've been conditioned to think that everyone must go to college. what people don't realize is that trades often pay as much as jobs for people with degrees - with no student debt required.
 
Eureka

Eureka

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2005
3,822
1
81
As an engineer, you realize how important it is to have skilled electricians/technicians who can get the job done. Honestly, if I didn't work out to be an engineer, being a technician wouldn't be a bad fallback.
 
Imp

Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,828
184
106
I'm not saying there's no shortage, but the more I read about this tradepersons shortage, the more I notice that it's not as politically clean and university-education related as it seems. Post a tradepersons shortage and all it really does is lead to a bashing of "useless degrees".
 
coldmeat

coldmeat

Diamond Member
Jul 10, 2007
9,234
142
106
They screwed over the sheet metal trade here a couple years back. Added a new license that is residential only. The problem is, they made it so easy to get basically anyone can run down and write the test. So now we have all these guys running around with the half ass licenses, taking all the work from the real tradesmen, and doing absolute shit work.
 
OverVolt

OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
14,278
89
91
From what I understand it is by no means all fun and games, but the demand is there so its workable in many trades.

What types of trades are there? How to get a job in trades? I'm legitimately interested.

I know there are machinists, electricians, plumbers, hmmm I don't know much about it.

During the housing boom I fixed some cabinets for my mom and the granite installer offered me a job based on what he saw. I was 18. I regretted not taking that job :)

Cause with my foot in the door I could have gone places, or maybe it was a dead end job who knows. Could always switch once I had some experience. Talk to people etc.
 
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Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
yllus said:
Solution: Pay tradespeople more.
Click to expand...
I wonder how many of those jobs are vacant because they want the perfect candidate, someone who will fit into the job environment with no issues at all, will require no training whatsoever because their previous job experience had them doing precisely the same tasks, and will work for next to nothing.
 
OverVolt

OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
14,278
89
91
Jeff7 said:
I wonder how many of those jobs are vacant because they want the perfect candidate, someone who will fit into the job environment with no issues at all, will require no training whatsoever because their previous job experience had them doing precisely the same tasks, and will work for next to nothing.
Click to expand...

No thats white collar jobs you are confused.
 
phucheneh

phucheneh

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2012
7,306
5
0
I don't see any demand for trades where I am. The wages are shit and they attract shit employees...which are abundant.

Companies aren't willing to pay for people with actual skills anymore. So a shortage of 'tradespeople' is more 'shortage of people willing to use their skills for what does not pay the bills.'
 
coldmeat

coldmeat

Diamond Member
Jul 10, 2007
9,234
142
106
phucheneh said:
I don't see any demand for trades where I am. The wages are shit and they attract shit employees...which are abundant.

Companies aren't willing to pay for people with actual skills anymore. So a shortage of 'tradespeople' is more 'shortage of people willing to use their skills for what does not pay the bills.'
Click to expand...

It's cause nobody wants to pay for quality labour, they just want whatever is cheapest.
 
Fenixgoon

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
33,427
13,053
136
if i were to go into trades i'd either be a machinist or a welder. could make a killing, and both very useful skills in general.
 
W

Wreckem

Diamond Member
Sep 23, 2006
9,549
1,130
126
Auto techs are in fairly large demand. Dealerships around where I am at are paying $25-30/hr and are constantly looking for employees.
 
phucheneh

phucheneh

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2012
7,306
5
0
Wreckem said:
Auto techs are in fairly large demand. Dealerships around where I am at are paying $25-30/hr and are constantly looking for employees.
Click to expand...

What a coincidence; dealers around here are also always looking for new employees.

...only it's because they want to pay them $12-15 an hour.

Then they get to start looking for new customers.
 
I

iGas

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2009
6,240
1
0
Fenixgoon said:
if i were to go into trades i'd either be a machinist or a welder. could make a killing, and both very useful skills in general.
Click to expand...
Welder is a decent trade to be in but machinist is a dead trade, unless you want to move to China.

The better trades to have are instrumentation mechanic, refrigeration mechanic, electrical, pipe fitting, gas fitting, and plumbing.

http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Instrumentation_Engineering_Technician/Salary

http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Instrumentation_%26_Controls_%28I%26C%29_Technician/Hourly_Rate

http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Pipefitter/Hourly_Rate

http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Plumber,_Pipefitter,_or_Steamfitter/Hourly_Rate
 
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F

Farang

Lifer
Jul 7, 2003
10,913
3
0
Trades have a major tradeoff (har har har) in that you're turning yourself into a machine. If what your machine does is no longer useful, or the market for what your machine does is adjusted (someone mentioned new certification requirements for sheetmetal workers, for example), you become very low value in the labor market.

The benefit I think is, as a machine mostly all that matters is your production. When I was a white collar worker I envied the freedom many tradespeople I knew had to be themselves at work while I was surrounded by backslapphappy fake assholes.
 
Fenixgoon

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
33,427
13,053
136
iGas said:
Welder is a decent trade to be in but machinist is a dead trade, unless you want to move to China.

The better trades to have are instrumentation mechanic, refrigeration mechanic, electrical, pipe fitting, gas fitting, and plumbing.

http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Instrumentation_Engineering_Technician/Salary

http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Instrumentation_%26_Controls_%28I%26C%29_Technician/Hourly_Rate

http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Pipefitter/Hourly_Rate

http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Plumber,_Pipefitter,_or_Steamfitter/Hourly_Rate
Click to expand...

AFAIK major companies like boeing, lockheed, etc. still need them. desperately.
 
stormkroe

stormkroe

Golden Member
May 28, 2011
1,550
97
91
It's more specific than the OP. I have about 70+/- applications in my inbox right now. Specifically, there is a shortage of apprentices who are worth the rates. It's NOT always their fault! In electrical, guys will get stuck running ground wires for their entire apprenticeship because their journeyman is pushed too hard to be able to teach them like they should. These guys squeek through their schooling and all of a sudden you've got someone who has first year knowledge legally obligated for journeyman rate. The apprenticeship boards need to crack down on companies screwing their guys out of proper training.
And as for the 'pay them more' comment? Journeyman rate in my area is $36-$41/ hour plus benefits.

<-------------- Alberta red seal Master Electrician
 
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