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> and I don't see why nobody would want to become an electrician I have a 70-year old relative who was a lifelong electrician, and he basically can't move now

> and I don't see why nobody would want to become an electrician I have a 70-year old relative who was a lifelong electrician, and he basically can't move now without significant pain due to the lack of cartilage. Electrician work, especially in the home, involves a lot of awkward angles.

toomuchtodo 3y ago
Physical labor has a shelf life as the body ages. Need a way to give folks a path to skill and earn and eventually transition to less physical work as they age, using what they've learned to contribute in more knowledge based roles (staff electrician, etc).
huijzer 3y ago
As anecdotal counter-evidence, I have a dozen relatives who are lifelong farmers and they are doing pretty good for their ages even though farming is statistically a very dangerous job. Also, office workers often get carpal tunnel syndrome, low back pain, finger injuries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses for "Electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors" don't seem too bad [1]. "Motor vehicle manufacturing", "Office furniture (including fixtures) manufacturing", and "Wholesale trade" seem to do much worse. [1]: https://www.bls.gov/web/osh/table-1-industry-rates-national.htm https://www.bls.gov/web/osh/table-1-industry-rates-national....
- mschuster91 3y ago
  > "Motor vehicle manufacturing", "Office furniture (including fixtures) manufacturing", and "Wholesale trade" seem to do much worse. The reasons for why these jobs in particular have higher injury rates are easy to take a guess... manufacturing of vehicles and furniture involves a lot of heavy machinery and robotics as well as very repetitive work, and I'd take a guess that "wholesale trade" involves running forklifts, a field that's very notorious for employers skimping on workplace safety and for employees to break even common sense rules out of complacency or perverse incentives. In contrast, farmers do a very VERY diverse work, so the usual problems associated with repetitive work don't appear.

toomuchtodo 3y ago

Physical labor has a shelf life as the body ages. Need a way to give folks a path to skill and earn and eventually transition to less physical work as they age, using what they've learned to contribute in more knowledge based roles (staff electrician, etc).

huijzer 3y ago

As anecdotal counter-evidence, I have a dozen relatives who are lifelong farmers and they are doing pretty good for their ages even though farming is statistically a very dangerous job. Also, office workers often get carpal tunnel syndrome, low back pain, finger injuries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses for "Electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors" don't seem too bad [1]. "Motor vehicle manufacturing", "Office furniture (including fixtures) manufacturing", and "Wholesale trade" seem to do much worse. [1]: https://www.bls.gov/web/osh/table-1-industry-rates-national.htm https://www.bls.gov/web/osh/table-1-industry-rates-national....

mschuster91 3y ago
> "Motor vehicle manufacturing", "Office furniture (including fixtures) manufacturing", and "Wholesale trade" seem to do much worse. The reasons for why these jobs in particular have higher injury rates are easy to take a guess... manufacturing of vehicles and furniture involves a lot of heavy machinery and robotics as well as very repetitive work, and I'd take a guess that "wholesale trade" involves running forklifts, a field that's very notorious for employers skimping on workplace safety and for employees to break even common sense rules out of complacency or perverse incentives. In contrast, farmers do a very VERY diverse work, so the usual problems associated with repetitive work don't appear.