I’m a 3 trade branch manager and the overwhelming commonality that drives motivation is telling the apprentices how much they can make a year consistently.
I had a guy who wouldn’t touch drains (plumbers mostly are above that for some reason) until he found out that he could make $150K/year as a drain tech (no license needed generally). Proved it with one of his peers and he literally switched his tune immediately.
Average HVAC service techs should be at $100K. Good electricians are at $200K+.
Yeah, they make a lot more than most people. That’s what they should be telling young people. Like working with your hands or you’re a visual learner? Trades is where you should be. You’ll be happy, well paid, and have an amazing sense of accomplishment every day. It’s a great living.
Tell me more about this drain tech please.
Basically, drain techs unclog drains with drain snakes or augers. They can also scope the drain with a 100’ inspection camera to see what is causing a clog. Could be roots ingressing a drain or a clay pipe that’s cracking. That’s where the big money is because replacing the pipe is the only long lasting solution. Some companies do pipe lining but that’s a bandaid for more year instead of decades. Replacing the pipe can involve excavating and concrete removal. Gets expensive fast. We’re doing a job that involves excavating 8’ down to the main drain, replacing 20’ of pipe and then covering it back up, demoing concrete to replace the basement line, and repairing concrete. $15k and the tech gets 8% of the sale and 10% if they do the work for a total of 18%. $2,700 gross isn’t bad for a hard day or 2 days work.
Unions. If my kid who is choosing between college and electrician had a strong electrical workers union to go to to start, it would make a huge difference to that decision.
education, money, AND RETIREMENT FUNDING
mofos
Fund a Top Gun style movie only about carpenters, plumbers, and HVAC guys. ;)
no one should be made to work. they should be incentivized and the opportunities should be easily accessible.
How so?
good pay, nice benefits, ample opportunity. same as any other jobs.
The market is taking care of itself - the article appears to be concerned that the relatively cheap jobs are not being filled at the previous going rate. I work in the trades, and average wage has gone up 40% in 10 years, and everyone is still hurting for new electricians, so this wage growth will increase for the foreseeable future. Classrooms are full of students seeing those wages… the market is taking care of itself.
A large disincentive for the trades is the heat of the south, and the lower barrier to entry of those states is evident in the construction standards and output. Still wages will have to increase there, or work won’t get done.
A lot of these articles pine for people willing to work at the previous low wage for a position, and much good may that do them.
That’s always the crux of every employment issue,
“We need more workers but we won’t pay to entice. Damn entitled youth”
Really sucks when the free market cuts both ways.
Cut war funding
Increase education funding
Raise taxes on the billionaire class
I agree we should do those things, but I don’t think that would increase trade job attractiveness.
Free training and increase the minimum wage while tying it to inflation.
