Trade Workers Need To Build Trust
Too much of the general public does not hold trade workers in high esteem. It’s a major reason why so many young people resist entering the trades. The main reason why so many people harbor negative feelings about trade workers is because of bad experiences dealing with some. Too many home owners have dealt with […]
A Flip Side Of The Skilled Labor Shortage
In these blogs, I frequently detail the nationwide shortage of skilled trade workers. However, I ought to make it clear that not every trade employer faces that dilemma. I’ve spoken to quite a few trade employers who tell me they have no trouble filling their jobs and are happy with the people they hire. Who […]
College Continues to Lose Luster
The number of high school graduates that enroll in college continues to drop. Data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows that in 2021 around 17.5 million students were enrolled in two- or four-year colleges and universities, a 3.2% decline from 2020 and the largest two-year decline on record. Although much of the dramatic […]
Talking Shop With A Trade Worker
In my last blog, I cited a survey showing 83% of trade workers expressed satisfaction with their work. It reminded me of conversations I had with one of them. Before Covid put an end to such fun, I used to gather with several friends to form a team for a weekly Trivial Night contest at […]
Most Trade Workers Love Their Jobs
An annual survey released in September found that 83% of skilled trade workers expressed satisfaction with their choice of work. This stands in contrast with numerous other studies that show workers in many other fields discontented with their jobs, a long-term trend that has been aggravated by the Covid pandemic. Skilled trade workers were attracted […]
The Skilled Labor Shortage By The Numbers
A common theme addressed in this blog is the nationwide shortage of skilled trade workers and the opportunities that spring from it for people who do opt for a career in the trades. Hardly a week passes when I don’t come across some startling information about this shortage. For instance, buried within an article in […]
How’s Your B.S. Detector?
I want to keep this blog family-friendly, so I won’t spell out what B.S. stands for. Anyway, it’s unnecessary since you all know what it means. (No, I’m not referring to a Bachelor of Science college degree.) The ability to detect B.S. is one of the handiest skills to have as you go through life. […]
Are You a People Person
There is a spectrum of personality types that can be thought of with “introverts” at one end vs. “extraverts” at the other. Introverts tend to be shy and hesitant to strike up conversations, especially with strangers. Extraverts are outgoing, “life of the party” types. They are often labeled as “people persons.” Jobs that entail sales […]
Would You Relocate for a Job?
This blog exists to detail the advantages of a skilled trade career and point readers in the right direction to get started on one. Yet, this writer has done some soul searching and realized that the opportunities may not be universal. Even though there is a severe shortage of skilled trade workers nationwide, some rural […]
National Signing Day for The Trades
College football and basketball fans pay attention to those sports’ annual National Signing Day when collegiate powerhouses compete to enroll the nation’s most highly rated athletes. Although not all recruits live up to their potential, many go on to become the sport’s brightest stars at the collegiate and NFL/NBA levels. Skills USA, a nonprofit organization […]