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Can illegals get an electrician's license or a plumber's license?
No, but that generally just means they can do the same work, much cheaper. I know plenty of people that have hired 'non licensed' workers to perform work at their house or business.
Correct. Trades are those awful "uneducated voters" the Democrats condemned because they did not vote the way they wanted them to vote. Since they do not have a college degree, that means they are just stupid in their minds.
For every tradesperson that makes 6 figures there are dozens that make $15/hour or less. These jobs also tend to have either no benefits at all or lackluster offerings. The work is subject to the boom/bust cycle of the overall economy, most people in the trades will have to deal with frequent and lengthy layoffs throughout their lifetimes. I grew up in a tradeperson's household and reality is not anything like the trade booster types claim. Most trades will only generate a living wage when you become a business owner and are managing other employees - so the tradespeople that take home the big paychecks are essentially white collar workers themselves.
When I was growing up drywallers made serious bank in my area. Also stone masons and some other trades. One of our neighbors was nineteen, a drywaller and buying his own house, he put like 30% down.
We are a total white collar family but never ever looked down on any guy willing to fix our toilets, appliances, house, etc.
I can't speak for all white collar --- but the deepest respect for anyone who is able to do repairs of any kind in the home.
I don't believe it is a lack of respect for trades, I think it is a unwillingness to put in the 'hard' work.
Yep. Jack of all trades, master at none <sarcasm>... But we are expected to be.
People in trade positions provide important service. House cleaners are important too, it's a skill and the service keeps me sane. I can build and trouble shoot computers, an ICU nurse for over 20 years, and now run a business, BUT! I can't clean house worth a %*@#!! ....
When it comes to house cleaning I'm a procrastinator and a putzer and miserable doing it, so I pay someone to clean. And if family starts getting lazy about picking up after themselves between visits, if I have to do it for them watch out for my wrath, they pay a price for laziness. Who ever thought that just I am a women I'd automatically be good at it and love doing it is a chauvinist.. obviously.
We all have different weaknesses and we all have different skills and strengths and each is important.
The average wage for drywall installers today is $23 per hour or about 47k per year. That is enough to live on but not what most people would call serious bank.
You also ignore the upside potential if you have the right degree. Adjusting for inflation, the 19 year old drywaller is most likely not making much more now than when they were 19 and may actually be earning less.
Most of the members of my family work in the trades or manufacturing, but none are delusional enough to suggest that if you have the cash and the aptitude that you should skip college and follow their path. In fact, my father told me that he didn't bust his ass all those years just to watch me and my siblings take up a trade. None of the blue collar tradespeople that I know would be happy to see their kids walk away from their chance to go to college, many would be very upset if they even suggested it.
Plus all it takes in one injury and that is it, no longer able to do the trade. All those years of experience down the drain, only if you are running your own business with no involvement are you fine, but that is rare. Plus other things like when you are not feeling well, recovering from something, etc, sitting at a desk is still manageable, but not physical labor the trades require.
I am in residential construction. I am currently trying to get OUT of residential construction. Hard work on body, no benefits, pay is mediocre and when a recession comes along, construction work is first to go.
Do it in your 20’s, but find a way to get out into something else or create a business.
Correct. Trades are those awful "uneducated voters" the Democrats condemned because they did not vote the way they wanted them to vote. Since they do not have a college degree, that means they are just stupid in their minds.
That’s what the right wing media wants you to think. I’m in the trades and a liberal, most educated people I meet have respect for our work. Stop trying to politicize people’s livelihood’s.
The average wage for drywall installers today is $23 per hour or about 47k per year. That is enough to live on but not what most people would call serious bank.
You also ignore the upside potential if you have the right degree. Adjusting for inflation, the 19 year old drywaller is most likely not making much more now than when they were 19 and may actually be earning less.
Most of the members of my family work in the trades or manufacturing, but none are delusional enough to suggest that if you have the cash and the aptitude that you should skip college and follow their path. In fact, my father told me that he didn't bust his ass all those years just to watch me and my siblings take up a trade. None of the blue collar tradespeople that I know would be happy to see their kids walk away from their chance to go to college, many would be very upset if they even suggested it.
Working in the trades sounds good in theory, but the injury rate is high and the work is physically demanding, so it's not a career path that can be sustained until age 70 or so.
That's funny because I know a lot who keep physically active well into old age, not sitting at a desk all day. They also made enough to retire or own their own companies well into their seventies and beyond.
Last edited by Tokinouta; 11-20-2018 at 02:56 PM..
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