3 ms·

> What are the hours and benefits like for long haul trucking? I'd imagine it's not a job widely available in West Virginia or areas where there is mass unemplo

> What are the hours and benefits like for long haul trucking? I'd imagine it's not a job widely available in West Virginia or areas where there is mass unemployment. The benefits are like any other salaried position, and the hours are restricted by federal mandate for safety reasons. The one downside is being away from home for extended periods of time, but... y'know... it's a job; if it were easy it wouldn't pay well. The labor shortage in the trades is well documented: http://www.career.org/news/shortage-of-skills-construction-skilled-trades http://www.career.org/news/shortage-of-skills-construction-s... http://www.centerforamerica.org/pledge/gr/AAMGA_Magazine_Ratzenberger_CFA_Article_8-11.pdf http://www.centerforamerica.org/pledge/gr/AAMGA_Magazine_Rat... > Why else do you think the labor participation rate is so low? Why don't all those people who lost manufacturing or coal jobs just follow your advice? They should follow my advice. My guess as to why the participation rate is so low is because Millennials are living at home with their Baby Boomer parents, playing video games and avoiding the harsh realities of adult life. They were sold on the false dream that they could get any degree they wanted and walk right out of college into a high paying, indoor job. Dreams like that are hard to wake up from. > I don't think you should dismiss millions and millions of people making minimum wage, working part-time, or out of the labor force altogether and just assume (without a shred of evidence) that they are simply choosing not to take well paid jobs that you describe as so freely available. When we no longer have a labor shortage in the trades and other blue collar jobs, I'll stop dismissing the millions of people making minimum wage.

diogenescynic 10y ago
>Millennials are living at home with their Baby Boomer parents, playing video games and avoiding the harsh realities of adult life This is a terrible strawman and it really discredits the rest of the argument you're making. I'm a millennial and I don't know anyone like you're describing. >labor shortage in the trades Every time you hear "labor shortage" you need to add "at the offered salary/wage"--they need to offer more money. Why do you think people would rather work a minimum wage job than take your advice? You offer literally no explanation and just make claims without any evidence. You are speaking from opinion, not fact.
- marknutter 10y ago
  > This is a terrible strawman and it really discredits the rest of the argument you're making. Uh.. did you even read the article we're commenting on? I'm speaking directly to its main thesis. If you're making a claim about it being a straw man, take it up with the author. > I'm a millennial and I don't know anyone like you're describing. And I'm a millennial too and I know plenty of people like the one I'm describing. > Every time you hear "labor shortage" you need to add "at the offered salary/wage"--they need to offer more money. It's not that simple. Many of the industries experiencing labor shortages are labor intensive and there are limits to the amount they can increase wages and remain economically viable. > Why do you think people would rather work a minimum wage job than take your advice? You offer literally no explanation and just make claims without any evidence. You are speaking from opinion, not fact. Frankly, Millennials aren't as money-motivated as previous generations were. They choose to accept the stigma of staying at home with their parents or working low wage service jobs over the life of a blue-collar worker. I don't even really fault them for it; money ain't everything. But they have to lie in the bed they make for themselves. They can't both live a bohemian lifestyle free from responsibility and have all the trappings of life that hard work provides.

diogenescynic 10y ago

>Millennials are living at home with their Baby Boomer parents, playing video games and avoiding the harsh realities of adult life This is a terrible strawman and it really discredits the rest of the argument you're making. I'm a millennial and I don't know anyone like you're describing. >labor shortage in the trades Every time you hear "labor shortage" you need to add "at the offered salary/wage"--they need to offer more money. Why do you think people would rather work a minimum wage job than take your advice? You offer literally no explanation and just make claims without any evidence. You are speaking from opinion, not fact.

marknutter 10y ago
> This is a terrible strawman and it really discredits the rest of the argument you're making. Uh.. did you even read the article we're commenting on? I'm speaking directly to its main thesis. If you're making a claim about it being a straw man, take it up with the author. > I'm a millennial and I don't know anyone like you're describing. And I'm a millennial too and I know plenty of people like the one I'm describing. > Every time you hear "labor shortage" you need to add "at the offered salary/wage"--they need to offer more money. It's not that simple. Many of the industries experiencing labor shortages are labor intensive and there are limits to the amount they can increase wages and remain economically viable. > Why do you think people would rather work a minimum wage job than take your advice? You offer literally no explanation and just make claims without any evidence. You are speaking from opinion, not fact. Frankly, Millennials aren't as money-motivated as previous generations were. They choose to accept the stigma of staying at home with their parents or working low wage service jobs over the life of a blue-collar worker. I don't even really fault them for it; money ain't everything. But they have to lie in the bed they make for themselves. They can't both live a bohemian lifestyle free from responsibility and have all the trappings of life that hard work provides.