I am a foreman for a commercial cabinet and trim company. I started on my own building custom cabinetry and furniture 25 years ago. One thing I do to promote and foster our younger workers is to teach them everything I know, and let them know that if they show up every day and excel that I will have their back to make more money. I try to spend quality time with each of them and not pigeonhole them as the jobsite gofer, or just the guy that cuts trim. We currently have 5 young new hires and within a month, they can set a door, cut and install casing and base, cut crown, and set cabinets. They arent journeymen , but Ive always noticed that when I engage with them, most are eager to improve and learn. Ive even had a few go off on their own with their own business. That is really the best compliment I can get.

I wish there were more basic trade classes offered in high school. Just like a basic electricity or basic plumbing. Have it be like a wood shop or auto class where it gets your feet wet and gives you a basic idea of the trade, so that students can make better informed decisions.

Agree 100% Rob. I wish I had been guided to a trade school when I was in high school. I'm a teacher by trade but my passion/love is woodworking. You'll make a difference man! All the best to you and those students.

Excellent word Rob. I trained sales people for many years, and I will tell you, about 80% of people in sales shouldn’t be in sales! I could pretty much tell who was going to stick by the end of the first day. It ended up being those who had the heart to serve people and see IF they could add value to their company. PASSION! The money chasers never lasted. You know the old saying, if your why is big enough, you’ll figure out the how. Obviously the trick in our line of work is finding someone who gets a deep sense of satisfaction from building something with their hands. You can’t “train“ that. Being in building and trades has gotten a bad rap for way too long. It’s an honest, fulfilling, and honorable way to make a living.

Very true. I'm 28 and I'm a full time self employed cabinet/furniture maker. I used to have what people would consider as a dream job. I was a fighter in the UFC. I enjoyed the sport, but the job itself was horrible lol. Worst job ever. I since retired and took my woodworking full time. Now my wife and I are happier than ever, making a more stable consistent living than ever before. When I was in high school I never once heard someone legitimately suggest the trades as a great option. It always sounded like a cop out if you can't hang in the "real world" of being a pro athlete or sitting at a desk. The younger generation is also obsessed with "making a difference" in other's lives, and they are impatient and don't have vision. If they could just be satisfied with taking care of their own family now, then when they are older then they can show others how to do the same AFTER they've walked the road by experience.

Old school thinking is dying out. If you pick in the young ones too hard and pay them too little, their passion dies quickly. After the passion dies, they will switch to something easier/different for similar pay. I've seen it again and again. I've experienced it myself personally. It's to the point where I no longer want to work with anyone older than me. Work site abuse is bull and you can feel free to take the "toughen up" attitude to the grave with you. I will be doing my own thing and help my customers my way.

I recently heard a builder talk about how even those we get into the trades are being taught to be installers and not true craftsmen or women. While I wholeheartedly agree we need to bring many more students into the trades it is just not enough to just teach basic skills. We must also help them discover the tradecraft that they have a passion for. A trade that they are willing to put in the effort to dive deep into the craftsmanship and artisanal development to become a master that always strives to do better and learn more.

I went into the medical field. I wanted to go into a trade when I was in high school, welding or locksmith. My parents looked down on it. Skilled trade jobs were "dirty jobs", jobs that "losers" got. Hate my job.

I wish i worked for someone like you. Im going about 2 years into carpentry love what i do but dislike who i work with. Im the least inexperienced but im already a lead on my job site over watching guys with way more experience than me because of my quality of work and how fast i learn. I love what i do but i wish i worked with people who took more pride in their work.

Great insight Rob. I started my carpentry apprenticeship a year and a half ago aged 27 (so quite late) and wish I had followed my heart not my head years ago. There is such a push in schools for students to go into more white collar or acedemic pursuits and only those who don't excel in the classroom are 'encouraged' towards the trades. This is such a shame as it creates a stigma around the trades as being a less worthwhile career. I'm loving working with my hands and couldn't imagine going back to working in an office or back to university again! While you can't necessarily teach someone to be passionate, you certainly do spark a passion in some people simply by opening their eyes to the trades.

Good luck with having workers leave their phone in the car. I’m a foreman for commercial HVAC company and the phone is one of my biggest frustrations.

Very Well Said Passion Is The Key You Need To Love It & Understand It Then Do It Well, Thanks For Sharing Your Thoughts I Totally Agree.

As a part-time woodworker and full-time high school teacher, I completely agree. We are trying to reinvent our Alt Ed program and I am screaming for a legitimate trade pathway, and get nothing but resistance from administrators and my peers. Passion can't be taught, and without exposure we as educators may never help guide students to uncover that passion. There is nothing more fulfilling that making something with your hands that is tangible.

I forgot to mention I appreciate what you're doing to promote the trades. It is very hard to land and keep new workers.

I’m with you buddie! I found this out a few years ago. Very true.

I remember the time in Germany when I learned my job, alot of companies let the young learners just do the stupid, simple and dirty work over the first one ore two years... Of course they lost interest and passion for the job and often the learners quit before get they're profession ...

Spot on. The kids today really could have it made in a trade. They will be getting paid high rates in the future. Something my generation is just now beginning to see. There are less and less “skilled craftsmen “ out there and theres a high demand . At least that’s how I see it here in Rhode Island. Thanks for the insightful video.

Very smart way to approach this situation 👍

Great piece. Very thoughtful and good insights that apply outside of the trades as well.

I just wanted to take a minute and say thanks. I value your wisdom, I've watched many of your videos, good stuff

9 months into handyman, carpentry/ cabinet installation. So many benefits I can feel and see myself improving. Industry teaches you valuable work/life skill 23 years, Foucs on yourself don't pay attention too the lies. So many days where I've wanted to quit stop give up but I kept pushing through... different levels always another challenge but rewarding. Don't Foucs on the check think about the future anyone with skill and determination will win. It's an opportunity forsure but it's gotta be in you too come ready every day. It's way more enjoyable if you got a good team/boss that you can actually appreciate and respect Karma on 9000 levels Throw ur ego and pride aside you will face adversity. If you don't know wtf you're doing just ask. 3 moths ago I'd neverd spend time off clock to research the trades Now a hobby How much money too how much can I learn Enturpur gang

Wife and I own a veterinary clinic. We take a co-op student from the local High School every year. It's a small town and we pay the kids decent so the competition for our 1 spot is usually pretty stiff. The number 1 thing I look for when selecting our student for the year is Drive. I want a kid who wants to be there on time or early every day, I want a kid who is interested in what the daily ins and outs are and I want a kid who cares about the job they do. On the other end, we've been successful building this relationship with the school because of how WE TREATS THE KIDS. It's not all on them. If we show up for work and have a bad attitude and give the kids a bad environment to work in, they're not going to respond. Just keep in mind, making "kids" work isn't all about the kids, it's just as much if mot more about the adults too.

Entering the trades was never presented as an option. The choices seemed to be go to college, enlist in the military, or grind away in a random soul crushing job. After picking up woodworking as a hobby and helping build a shed and a few decks, I wish I had discovered I enjoyed this kind of work 17 years ago. The education system in this country is biased against working with your hands it seems.

I agree with you , as a retired trades person all i here is from friends still working is the company can't find workers. Here in Ontario Canada there is almost no introduction into basic trades in the school system, no wood shop, auto class or metal working. Therefore kids get no idea if this is a thing they like , working with there hands. Government, school boards, and industry need to address this problem..

I hired my son this summer straight out of high school and started training him to be a finish carpenter. I have a lot of hope for him. I think I've successfully convinced him that people with our skills are going to be in high demand and short supply in about 10-15 years. My only real problem with him is getting him to keep his nail bags on, not leaving and chasing his hand tools all over the house and CLEANING UP. He is such a half ass when it comes to anything involving a broom. 😂 I love him though, we're just working on developing good habits.

I spent my career in automotive repair, the majority of it at a GM dealership. Much like what you talk about, GM has a program called ASEP, (Automotive Service Education Program), that is a two year program that upon completion you have the training and an associates degree. For nine weeks you work 4 hours at a dealership, training under the guidance of an ASE and GM certified technician, and four hours in a classroom at the GM ASEP training center learning a specific system of the automobile. The next nine weeks are spent full time at the dealership under the same technician, then it repeats, splitting your day between the classroom and on the job training. Each cycle you learn a different system, and theoretically work with a different technician. The student is required to take and pass the academic classes in order to stay in the program to receive their associates degree.

Great video with an unbelievable message. With the advancement of tools, and the need of jobs, there is definitely a need to promote from the public education level. Forgot the college level. College is too expensive with limited future in today’s world. The trades pay very well and advancement is unlimited. Any questions, call Mike Rowe. 😉...or Rob!!

Dude, a really good conversation point. I'm 43 and just got hired on as a lead. I hope to not be bringing any junk with me and I really enjoy getting to teach the young'uns. Cheers.

Without being real careful of my language (not trying to be offensive - I'm speaking from experience) but I wish more trade guys were like you, Rob. I've worked for a handful of high-end renovators locally and they're manned by the 50+ divorcees / high-school dropouts with "baggage" you describe. At the time I was in my late 20s, early 30s and I've got a Bachelors Degree in Industrial Design which is a craftsmanship-focused industry. The cycle repeats, because the only 18-22 year old that will hang around to be bull-whipped by that crowd isn't terribly bright, or doesn't have another option whatsoever. It looks like a life sentence, just start "swinging a hammer" locally and eventually you too can be a miserable, single guy making $23/hr. with a sore back, trying desperately to coddle the owner enough to stay employed so you can keep seeing your kids every other week. I mention my degree because there is more to college or tertiary education than the program itself. In that time I moved 3 hours away, I lived with roommates, I had to make new friendships, explore and discover my own entertainment and supply lines, etc. That time between high school and the work force was MONUMENTAL and I simply think "the trades" lacks an equivalent. Someone like yourself, or the program you discuss in the video, can provide a positive learning environment with goals to meet, criteria, and theoretical concepts rather than rote learning. That's a huge improvement to the traditional crap shoot of apprenticeship. In summary, the trades needs a formal, tertiary education experience that parallels academia, in fact, as much academia you can pack into a trade program would be a bonus. We've been building things for thousands of years, it wouldn't hurt to gain an appreciation for the history of the trades. You are on the right track, as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks for the vid Rob, and making an effort to help people become better at their craft

Most workers in the blue collar jobs are taken advantage of.

My background: 4th generation carpenter, went into the trade at age 25, (6) months as a union carpenters apprentice before switching over to the mill/cabinet program. Worked in commercial cabinet/store fixture trade for (30) years, combining shop experience, drafting, drafting supervisor, project manager, and finally an estimator for multi-million dollar commercial projects. In 2010 our industry was wiped out by the economic downturn and competition from China, Canada, & Mexico. The government retrained me as an LPN Nurse and I left the trade. In my opinion, the problem with the building trade’s disappearing is a complex issue. First of all, society sees building trade jobs as careers for those who can’t cut college because of lack of intelligence or drive. The trade careers are looked down upon and the young people know it. The recent news about the number of graduates who owe many thousands of dollars for their education and can’t turn that into a viable career should be a clue to the educational system that college is not the best choice for every student. We need to mirror the European educational model where students follow either a college track or trade track. By the time the students leave middle school they are on one track or the other. By the time the trade group graduates from HS they are ready to go to work. In the carpentry/cabinet trade in the US, after WWII we had an influx of European tradesmen, mostly German, that passed on their skills to apprentices and journeymen alike. By the 1980’s those craftsmen started to retire or pass away, and by 2000 they were pretty much gone. That created a vacuum in skill development In our trade, and it was the end of good paying union woodworking jobs in CA. Benefits disappeared, pay declined, and work satisfaction plummeted. Fixing this deplorable situation will be almost impossible without some serious changes in attitudes and education. “Free Trade” has taken away millions of jobs and closed doors on Americas manufacturing base. I fear my Grandkids will not live as well as my generation has, and I pray we do something about this situation before it is too late. Thank you for bringing this to your viewers attention. I am a new subscriber, and we need more people like you.

Dads, it's our responsibility! I take my son with me (almost 10) and have him work with me. He is capable of more than just about everyone in my age group that I know in the SF Bay area. I wish I could post an image. He's the pride of my life and he makes me so proud. My dad taught me, his dad taught him, and his dad taught him (Quaker). My son won't ever be calling a repairman. Furthermore, I'm hard on him. This is a soft generation, no justice is done to these kids by protecting them and not forcing them to break their ass. My son gets pushups for consequences as well as hole digging and essay writing, and because of that, he can write, type (top of his class), he's strong as hell and his hands know what effort and hard work is. All that said, he knows the value of his hard work. Fishing, unicycle and bicycle riding, paddleboarding, hiking, camping, motorcycle riding, skeet shooting, and the list goes on. I treat him like a man and I truly respect him. Did I mention that I taught him to drive my truck? He's begging to learn stick-shift... Good boy! Rob, I love your channel. I truly recognize the quality of the entire operation and the effort invested, a gem of KZfaq, no BS. I appreciate this video especially. I can't say I have the answer, but I am trying as hard as I can on my end. Cheers

The mentorship program is still the best way to get younger ones interested in trades, collaborating with the government to give trades a professional status in schools and colleges, is also a sure fire way to ignite passion in the trades

I have worked for 35 years in mostly residential construction (poured concrete foundations) mostly with tradespeople I and my father know. We've done poured walls in an eight-county (mostly rural) area. (My father is a retired union carpenter, and past Boilermaker) I tend to see things a little differently than Rob Robillard does. Through my experience (and sharing in my father's), I've learned there is a growing anti-blue collar trend (read: anti-labor) in our area and generally throughout the country. Coastal areas where Rob is are significantly different. From my perspective, there's plenty of work there, year-round, because there's a much more active economy there. Go inland, and it's a mixed bag at best. Kids go away for college or the military in a *perceived* quest for social and economic legitimacy. They do this because they fear the stigma attached to skilled blue-collar pursuits. They are taught that skilled trades aren't viable and not rewarding. They don't just learn this at home. They learn this from a shared experience in their community. The trend is to either regard trades as weak or to make them that way. I have relatives in Europe. The news I get from relatives over there is that trades are respected, valued, unionized and better established socially and economically. (They are seen as "viable".) Until our society confronts the way we regard blue-collar trades and tradespeople and the value of the work that they do, this issue will continue.

Work ethic is the biggest hurdle I have seen. Some younger kids dont mind the part where they have to learn, but when it comes time to put those skills to work, they simply arent interested in working hard. The opposite is also true. Ive seen kids that will work, but they are impossible to train, or you train them, but they dont retain what you have taught them. Both of these situations create issues, especially in production driven construction trades where you maybe dont get paid by the hour, but paid a piece rate. Nothing is more frustrating when your paycheck takes a hit because the kid you are training has one these two issues.

19 year old carpenter here. I'm slowly converting my in-college peers with the real numbers. Once they find out I already make more than they will with their degree and will continue to get raises, they sometimes see the value in trade jobs. It's all te adults that shame kids like me and use us as cautionary tails ("oh know you might have to get off your ass for a few hours") that are the real problem.

I’m a production supervisor at a small(180 people) defense contractor. We can’t find good personnel, no matter where we look, local or national level. I can’t tell you how many “carpenters” we’ve hired that can’t read a tape measure. We’ve had to start a basic training program, starting with things like reading a tape measure. Don’t get me started on finding someone that can read prints, even with training.

Going to be honest here as a 23 year old carpenter who is also university educated. Part of the problem is the pay. I keep hearing about carpenters making lots of money in the field but of all the carpenters I know personally (who haven't become builders) the most they're making is maybe 60k(CAD) at the max. Where I live in Toronto you need to make way more than that to live here. I know other trades make a better salary but I can only speak for my trade. When I was in high school people were going to college and university so they could get a well paid job. The perception played a role as-well but the main thing people were looking for was a job that could pay them what it costs to live in the city and own property. Given the cost of living where i'm from no young person is going to be enticed by the prospect of making $25-$30/h for the rest of their life.

You like this one! Outs simple supply and demand. My prices are increasing every year. Because journey man are gone. My selection on customers is more select because the demand for quality and knowledge is so high. I told young folks that theday is coming where starting wages refill bre I'm high teens. Average wages $25-30 Ann hour with company charging 120 am hour. Money doesn't drive mostof them. What drives them is how little hard work I can do. The ruok tier that have the drive they will make as much as batchelor or masters degrees and potentially more!

I’m a 29 year old that has been trying to get into trades for almost 3 years. I grew up being taught by teachers and professors that trade work was for idiots and criminals. My dad (who isn’t around) is a master electrician, but always told me stay away from trades. I haven’t had an opportunity to work in a trade, which I have grown to appreciate over the last 5 or so years. Each time I’ve talked with guys, it’s always something about my lack of experience or, that they can get someone for $10 that has been doing it under the table for years.( I’m guessing illegally) It sucks, cause I am passionate and just want an opportunity. I’m currently in a maintenance tech course so I can at least have that certificate as well as OSHA. Hoping I can get my foot in the door somewhere this winter. I’m tired of sales. I’ve run Verizon stores up and down the east coast for the past 4 years. It’s good money, but isn’t really work I feel pride in doing.

Yeah the problem with the trades is that it’s real work and you will learn a lot.

I'm 35 and have my own business in flooring and I just figured out I'm classed as a millennial but even I can't understand this shift from trade work to... well what ever it is people deem more important.

A lot of USA high school students don't have time in their schedule to take a shop class out of curiosity. The universities require at least two years of "World Languages" on top of the usual math, science, etc. Do what you can to eliminate the de facto requirement for foreign language courses in high school. If we can get colleges to accept a welding course as being equivalent to a French class, then all students will have more opportunities to take shop classes and not feel like they have "wasted" a class period they could be using to get into college.

Passion. Agreed.

As a carpenter the lack of pay is what started to draw me away from it.. I did it for 7 years wood frame builder (building homes) just frame and roof the skeleton of the house

Interesting topic. I hire co-ops, but in the software industry and I can tell you that it is a TERRIFIC program for both business and the student, so I can't speak highly enough about the program. But what do you think about the emerging "Maker" community and how that relates to the Trades? It seems to me like there is a very healthy community of woodworkers and metalworkers with creative minds that are developing amazing skills. Do you think that this emerging class of people have a potential roll to play in the future of the trade industry? If so, how would you see that working?

I'm a 3rd term carpenter apprentice and make almost twice the amount of my previous labor job and I have benifits, joining the trades was the best thing I did with my life.

Looks like that’s a problem everywhere ... I’m a carpenter by trade from Germany ( did my ticket there ) and life and work now in Canada .... and we have the same problem here in Canada 🇨🇦 and back at home in Germany 🇩🇪 we can’t find good people or even anyone who wants to work in construction .... but honestly I’m done with this job I’m now a bit over 50 years old and work as a carpenter now 25 years ...

Bio: I use help sporadically and bring in my friends from out of state when I get big jobs. I am a painter who does carpentry because the guys doing it are horrible around me. If I look for help locally. Seems everyone has baggage these days so. If I need someone. I weigh the baggage they have vs skill for the job I need them to do. Most of the time ( in my situation) I need a carpenter with the framing/ground up knowledge I just dont have to get me to the finish part. Then I cut them loose because MOST are messy hacks after that. Show them a Festool attached to a dust extractor on a paulk total station and you may as well land a ufo in front of them. When I look for a general helper I look for a high school drop out. Why? Because any high school graduate I come across cant wipe their bottom but, they know the are for a certain political party. They are weak physically and cant pay attention to detail. The drop outs seem to want to get the job done My rule is cell phones and cigarettes stay in the truck unless youve got grandma about to die or a baby about to drop!! I usually dont have problems because I lay it all out long before we work.

I worked for a contractor who was so disorganized I would wate out side his house for an hour before starting work. That's just the beginning.

👍soo true that telephone and Facebook have got these young kids brainwashed and stops them from focusing on the job at hand. It is frustrating for us trying to teach them and dangerous for them because their mind isn't always on the job.too busy thinking about what they are going to do on the weekend hehe.cheers

I've been a carpenter for 25 years and both my boys have now entered the trade and couldn't be prouder. But the problem is while kids are training the money isn't great, so you get a lot that get fed up and Jack it in and chase the easy money. I think if they started woodworking classes earlier in the school curriculum, the kids would be a lot further on by the time there ready to leave school so they could do loads more and the money would be a lot better All the best rob Darrell from uk

Hard part is finding someone with the passion. Then keeping them. There are a ton of us guys in the trades doing remodels making decent money but only have 1 other guy helping. Job offers no medical no 401k no vacation. The company that hires a bunch of guys offer the benefits but very low pay. I'm in the south most of your basic construction/remodeling is not licensed or controlled anyone can start doing it. Well it creates a overflow of people trying to make a living undercutting eachother pay wise. It's hard work it's a constant hustle. Its rough I'm trying to get out of the trades trying to get into a line of work more consistent. I came from doing automotive mechanic work then to remodeling. I love fixing stuff I love running tools but it's just so hard trying to make decent money at it. Help is hard to find as well which makes it worse. I wish they would bring back auto shop, woodshop and other trades work back to high school.

Man my school counselor is forcing me to take the a-g route and he’s giving me these unnecessary classes instead of a wood shop class, I’ve told him many times that’s I wasn’t planning on going to a 4 year university. Since I’m a student he takes the advantage and I don’t know how to get out of that position. Any way I could get out of that a-g bullshit?

I was hoping to get some discussion going on this topic - what can we do as individuals? Be better bosses? Mentors? Pay better?

I think it depends a lot on your area. Here in the SF Bay area, almost all trades type jobs require that you either have at least 5 years of experience or have connections. It also helps if you can speak Spanish.

It goes both ways, good employers are hard to find.

Hard for a kid to pick up trade work when nobody offers benefits these days. Been a carpenter for 35 years now without a paid vacation or holiday, no insurance or retirement programs. I love my job but damn the benefits suck.

Gotta change public perception of trades AND push up pay, only then will gap close.

I wish I could set up a booth on a college campus to steer people away from going to college. Every GC I deal with is hurting for skilled trades. Most make very good money and can work all the OT they can handle. So many guys we try to hire stand there and watch our guys work. No motivation, no motivation. Sad as hell. I have been in the finish trades for over 30 years.

Instructors / Teachers can't be Azzhats on the site ! Instructors / Teachers have to adapt to the students learning ability levels ....example : a) some students are hardwired for numbers and book learning b) some students are hardwired for hands-on learning or monkey see monkey do lessons. c) some students are body built for heavy loads d) some students are body built for detail work etc etc...Instructors have got to figure out which tool box the student fits in , and reprogram them for other jobs.

This trade fascinates me and I would love to be able to work in this trade but I am a married man of 26 with a son. is it even worth it for me at this point? Is it even possible? Could I even get the proper education in time? I know I should have started when I was 20 but I wasn’t in a very good place at that age unfortunately.

Where I live we have a labour shortage in a big way. There's billboards everywhere making job offers. Here in Canada what they want to do is open up the boarders in order to fill the labour shortage.

Thet have to put shop classes back into schools and also they have to explain that a good living can be made if you become good at your trade

Many of the younger workers need psychological 'training' (sorry best term I could come up with) in order to not get decimated by challenges from work or other co-workers or the boss. Just what I've observed.

One bad problem I have seen that drives young people away from the trades. When starting out they get old-school bosses that drive them far too hard, yell at them for every little mistake, and give them all the garbage work. They treat them like disposable labor. What we need are bosses like Rob that will give them tasks and then follow through with passing along their knowledge. And allow them to make a mistake without threats or firing them right off. When I started out in the 1960's I was fortunate to start with a company that allowed me to learn and treated me with respect.

we can address the problems in our monetary system so the wages of working people aren't constantly devalued by inflation.

@Tool Box Buzz Im in my 30 looking to get into carpentry and everyone say go to trade school. I can’t find no trade school and I can’t find a carpenter to work for doesn’t at least a year of experience and I think that reason the trades are going down hill...... ps I live in CALIFORNIA

I’m 22 and a woodwork teacher in Ireland. You want to find someone passionate about a trade... find a way to offer it in schools, people don’t like what they don’t know and if they don’t experience a trade when they are young (13-18) the interest won’t be there when they are looking for a job.

Not mentioned but very related is the cost to train! A contractor picks up a new hire- trains them by investing higher than returned wage in order to keep the 'retained training' in his organization? Then the younger people leave with the investment- and so the contractor has become very cynical about training young people!- that from someone who's hired 100's of tradesmen in his career. Getting your new hires picked off once they get by their initial training my not be appealing to Concord- but its the real world!

Is it true that you can’t become an apprentice ( in any trade ) if you don’t either know someone or have prior experience or trade school certificate? I want to get into carpentry but I’ve never done any construction work so I don’t know shit but I’m very hard working and not a dumb guy lol

Keep in mind there are plenty of Gen X men who didn't learn skills outside of woodshop but would be willing to apprentice. Most of them can use a tape measure, passed geometry and general safety and don't have the baggage.

🙂👍

Treat people better and pay more.

I absolutely hate how the modern school system rams college down our throats like it's the only option out there. I want to become a Carpenter not only because I like working with my hands and creating things from scratch, but also to spite the school system. Let people tell their kids I'm the reason they should stay in school, I'll just smile knowing I make more than they do with a 4 year degree.

Union brother, my union has Brought in 1000 plus apprentice electrician’s In just a few years. We run classes during the day and at night, because even as a journeyman you have to renew your safety glasses and upgrade your knowledge. So we need to grow our union work, not destroy it with rhetoric

I don't get it. Who would thumbs down this video? Crazy

The trades are being given to foreigner illegals in my area. Prices suck and nearly 7 people in my family have gotten out of contracting all together. People expect a rock bottom price and the most high quality at the same time.

First!

I have been looking for a young person who wants to learn the trade for close to a year now. The struggle is real. I am looking for someone who wants to learn, someone who is looking for more then a paycheck, but more to learn a trade, a career. It is damn hard. No one wants to work.

The problem is our education system in the US. They drive it into students heads that if you don’t go to college you are a loser. Trade schools are never given a thought. I graduated high school in 2001 and it’s only gotten worse. I currently work for an industrial electrical contractor with our own DOL certified apprenticeship program. There aren’t enough skilled electricians out there so we train our own.

This is related in large part to American Universities and government over selling 4 year degrees. Politicians sell the public on free money for college, they get voted into office and universities benefit. Skilled trades is undersold and needs to be bought into the light as far as critical fields needed. Government needs extracted from their ability to deliver funds in this way. Their needs to be a better system in place that releases financial aid in critical need areas and not sell people into a fantasy degree or impractical liberal arts degree. So much waste when it comes to all of this.

Electrician here. Big trade skills gap here.. new apprentices can't even remember my coffee order. Could be that my union is based off a racial, gender quota system and nepotism instead of actual skilled workers. Ex-convicts get a fast track in too.

United Brotherhood of Carpenters Problem solved

Fine with me. The way things are moving these days there will be a shortage of quality skilled workers. Supply and demand means as professional carpenters we will be able to charge higher wages.

The problem I have seen is that most trade jobs in my area require something like 5+ years of experience, your own tools and your own truck. Bonus if you speak Spanish.

I have been level 1 apprenticeship for automotive technician. What a damn JOKE! has to the WORST LOUSY career EVER. There is NO WAY I would say to do it. Stuck at level 1 for 3yrs. Employers viewpoint is this “I can get a 2 or 3rd anytime, so why let you go to school for that?!” Total BS. And you Cannot go on your own for other levels to advance Unless your sponsored so basically YOUR STUCK. Screw it. And most trade people Do NOT want to take time to train. BYE BYE TRADES. Its because of the lack of care by the ones retiring its Going away

There's no skill gap mate. I'm in a union apprenticeship program now can't find work.

Second?

A big part of the problem these schools push college college computer computer computer.. for the last 20 years plus they've been doing this

I couldn't agree with you more however, I think there is another reason why men don't get into the trades-construction anymore. Too many lazy, self entitled guys who are more interested in milking some factory-manufacturing job their entire working career.

Take a pay cut ... pay them more. Oh

I think the old ways and old way of talking to people needs to change. If I'm new I don't need to hear how I don't know jack and how hard it use to be. Teach and be respectful and you'll get a good guy.

I completely disagree. The less carpenters around. The MORE we get paid, for our profession.

Same thing in the UK and Australia.. Shameful.

You have throw away there electronic toys away....