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Those jobs are gone these days. I grew up mostly in an upper middle class neighborhood, but for high school, we were bussed to a school in a more lower class a
by ja27 14y ago
Those jobs are gone these days.
I grew up mostly in an upper middle class neighborhood, but for high school, we were bussed to a school in a more lower class area. There were a lot more trailer parks in the area and the auto body program at my high school was pretty popular. Just last week I was driving through that area and saw business after business with signs outside looking to hire CNC machinists, HVAC installers, etc. Those skilled jobs aren't gone. They're getting harder and harder to fill. I don't think my high school even offers auto body classes any more, but there are two college-track magnet programs there.
- orangethirty 14y agoYes, you point another issue. In high school, I had the option to learn about other subjects aside from the standard math, English, Spanish, and science. There was a program that taught students about business (and had them run one from their classroom), one for music (which had them build a band), and wood shop (which had people building furniture). All of those programs are gone these days. All of them. Why? Budget cuts. But here is the real impact of such programs: All of the older people in the barrio that did not sell drugs, and were mechanics or construction workers, had learned their trade in school. This generation does not have that anymore.
- makomk 14y agoExactly, and no matter how desperate businesses claim to be for skilled staff they're hardly going to start training them up themselves either. On-the-job training is dead or dying basically everywhere.
- orangethirty 14y agoWhich is a pity, because I know a lot of talented people who are just dying to get an opportunity to learn on the job. Not college trained, or even really bright, but talented, and willing to learn.
- dangoldin 14y agoReminds me of a 60 minute segment that talked about the demand fro skilled labor and how they couldn't find anyone qualified. Some companies are starting to bring back on the job training. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57547101/employers-cant-find-enough-skilled-labor-to-fill-jobs/ http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57547101/employers-can...
- blhack 14y agoThey're getting harder and harder to fill because they don't pay anything anymore. A friend of mine quit his apprenticeship as a machinist because he can make more money doing phone tech support for a cable company.
- orangethirty 14y agoMachinists make a good living. How long was his apprenticeship?
- greghinch 14y agoMore money than an apprentice machinist or more money than a professional? I would guess the former, which is a pity.
- blhack 14y agoHis claim was more than a professional. Apparently going rate for a CNC mill operator is something like $14/hr. Maybe my friend is full of it (and believe me, I gave him a TON of flak for quitting).
- orangethirty 14y agoThat's about right for a new operator. Though they do make more with time, due to how difficult is to find good ones.
- greghinch 14y agoInteresting. My only experience is dealing with fabrication for motorcycle parts. Custom CNC fabricated parts are quite expensive, and hourly rates match that for repair work ($80-120 depending on locality) Generally these are experienced pro's though, so guessing you gotta start at the bottom and work up. But that's where I say pity, thought I don't know your friend's circumstances, and certainly if he needs the money now then it's the right choice. But so many just choose the quick, easy money now, and as a result the skilled trades in general are a dying art.
- 14y ago