This post has been de-listed
It is no longer included in search results and normal feeds (front page, hot posts, subreddit posts, etc). It remains visible only via the author's post history.
Early 20s, living in Alberta, the skilled trades capital of Canada. I've been browsing job listings for over 6 months now and I have found 0 companies willing to open the door for someone new to get into the trades. Every "apprentice" job listing is asking for 2 years of experience. Just enough experience to work with less oversight, but not too much that they have to get paid more.
Recently on the news was a story about a guy with a construction company, he stated that he has a contract to develop land into a neighborhood but can't start work because he doesn't have enough people to run his machines. He admitted live on air that hundreds of people applied to his job listing, but none of them were "qualified enough".
WHERE DO YOU THINK SKILLED WORKERS COME FROM? THE SKILLED WORKERS FAIRY?
YOU HAVE TO TRAIN THEM AND GIVE THEM EXPERIENCE, SOMEBODY HIRED YOU AS AN UNSKILLED WORKER WITH 0 EXPERIENCE OTHERWISE YOU WOULDN'T BE IN THE POSITION YOU'RE IN TODAY.
There is no shortage of workers in the trades, there is a shortage of companies taking on their responsibility as a trades employer to open the door and allow new people into the trades. Too many trades company owners talk about a "workers shortage" as if it isn't their responsibility to allow people to become experienced workers. They talk about the issue as if they just need to sit around and wait long enough for the skilled workers fairy to bring them more workers.
YOU HAVE A SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOR TODAY BECAUSE YEARS AGO YOU AND YOUR BUDDIES STOPPED ALLOWING NEW WORKERS TO BECOME SKILLED WORKERS. YOU WILL HAVE AN EVEN WORSE SHORTAGE 5 YEARS FROM NOW BECAUSE YOU ARE DOING THE SAME THING TODAY.
THE SHORTAGE ISN'T IN THE LABOR FORCE, IT'S IN THE COMPANIES THAT HAVE THEIR DOOR CLOSED TO THE WANNA-BE LABOR FORCE.
Subreddit
Post Details
- Posted
- 7 months ago
- Reddit URL
- View post on reddit.com
- External URL
- reddit.com/r/skilledtrad...
Same here, just one employee, every other week pretty much is a 4 day week, definitely could make more money if I wanted to, but I'd rather spend time with my wife and kids up in our little cabin in the mountains.
I decided a long time ago to never compromise on quality, so I've built a decent reputation as the guy to call if you want to pay for perfection... And I've also built up a bit of animosity towards my wealthy clients so I really don't give a shit how fast they want their bullshit fancy millwork, or that its expensive... I'm not working overtime or weekends for their spoiled asses.
I'm nice and cordial as I need to be in person, but these rich fucks can go fuck themselves. It took me a long time to reach this point, but honestly it's the for the best. When I was more ambitious and simpathetic of their bougie tastes it was a rat race trying to keep up. I actually was envious of their wealth and status.
Now I just want to be in the woods with my chainsaw and sawmill making shit from rough timber, if they want me to jerk them off with walnut veneers and glossy laquer they have to pay up...