5 ms·

> why not go apprentice yourself somewhere There has been a big push in the last 20 years or so to make sure that everyone makes a "living wage". This, in turn

> why not go apprentice yourself somewhere There has been a big push in the last 20 years or so to make sure that everyone makes a "living wage". This, in turn, makes it nearly impossible for people who want to learn a trade while making something (anything) from actually doing so. Their work and time is basically worthless. They can't be paid accordingly, so they just don't... Unless you want to volunteer, but most organizations don't value volunteer time because it isn't "real work".

ghaff 3y ago
Many people object to unpaid or minimally paid internships but that's pretty much the only option for many types of apprenticeships where the apprentice is learning but isn't really doing anything very useful.
- lotsofpulp 3y ago
  Either that type of work will die out, or the demand for it will cause the price for the work to increase allowing pay for the apprentices.
  - ghaff 3y ago
    Or things just continue as they have for decades.
idiotsecant 3y ago
Skilled trades apprenticeships in states with a sane labor culture are well paid and sought after positions.
- ghaff 3y ago
  One distinction is between being an apprentice to some craft that doesn't pay much under the best of circumstances and being an at least minimally useful apprentice/helper to a skilled trade that is pretty highly compensated. It's a lot easier to pay the latter decently than the former.
crow_t_robot 3y ago
If you can take out a $100k loan and 4 years off work to get a degree then you should be able to do the same to apprentice somewhere. I get what you are saying, though.
bsder 3y ago
> There has been a big push in the last 20 years or so to make sure that everyone makes a "living wage". This, in turn, makes it nearly impossible for people who want to learn a trade while making something (anything) from actually doing so. Checking Austin IBEW, it goes from starting apprentice at about $17/hr+benefits and goes up every year guaranteed until hitting about $34/hr+benefits at base rate for a journeyman. "Living wage" isn't going to impinge on that except at the very bottom. However, people don't want to do trades because it's really hard work.

ghaff 3y ago

Many people object to unpaid or minimally paid internships but that's pretty much the only option for many types of apprenticeships where the apprentice is learning but isn't really doing anything very useful.

lotsofpulp 3y ago
Either that type of work will die out, or the demand for it will cause the price for the work to increase allowing pay for the apprentices.
- ghaff 3y ago
  Or things just continue as they have for decades.

idiotsecant 3y ago

Skilled trades apprenticeships in states with a sane labor culture are well paid and sought after positions.

ghaff 3y ago
One distinction is between being an apprentice to some craft that doesn't pay much under the best of circumstances and being an at least minimally useful apprentice/helper to a skilled trade that is pretty highly compensated. It's a lot easier to pay the latter decently than the former.

crow_t_robot 3y ago

If you can take out a $100k loan and 4 years off work to get a degree then you should be able to do the same to apprentice somewhere. I get what you are saying, though.

bsder 3y ago

> There has been a big push in the last 20 years or so to make sure that everyone makes a "living wage". This, in turn, makes it nearly impossible for people who want to learn a trade while making something (anything) from actually doing so. Checking Austin IBEW, it goes from starting apprentice at about $17/hr+benefits and goes up every year guaranteed until hitting about $34/hr+benefits at base rate for a journeyman. "Living wage" isn't going to impinge on that except at the very bottom. However, people don't want to do trades because it's really hard work.