Best Practices for Ensuring Workplace Safety in the Trades
Workplace safety is crucial in any field, especially in the trades. Jobs in electrical, plumbing and HVAC are all incredibly rewarding, but injuries can occur in these fields without proper vigilance. Here are some essential workplace safety tips to keep you healthy and productive in the trades. Stay in (Relatively) Good Shape You don’t need […]
Be Open to New Ideas
As an old-timer myself, I have a lot of respect for experienced trade workers. The old saying, “practice makes perfect,” applies to many walks of life. I’m sure you’d rather be operated on by a surgeon who has performed a procedure hundreds of times rather than one doing it for the first time. Likewise, most […]
Five Unsung Comforts Provided Through the Trades
We owe the professionals in the skilled trades a lot. It is not a reach to say that our society is fully reliant on their work. Without proper electrical, plumbing, and HVAC services, our communities would be far less comfortable and not nearly as healthy. Sanitary removal of wastewater, power for refrigeration and indoor temperature […]
The Skilled Trades Are Surging
A front-page article in the April 2, 2024 edition of the Wall Street Journal addresses a point I’ve made repeatedly in this blog. It describes the growing attraction of trade careers to members of what’s become known as Generation Z, generally defined as those born between 1995 and 2012 – which I suspect includes many […]
Mind Your Manners
Politeness is important when it comes to any career, especially the plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical trades. Many people besides myself have noticed a general decline in good manners in recent times. In the trades or any other job for that matter, manners or lack thereof have a way of leaving an impression.. People are […]
Housing & The Trades
The housing market is one of the most important sectors of the American economy, both in terms of newly built houses and renovation or repair of existing homes. Most estimates place housing at between 15-18% of overall GDP – i.e., Gross Domestic Product, or the total value of all goods and services produced in our […]
Avoid The Clash Of Generations
One of the reasons it’s such a good time to enter a skilled trade is because the existing work force is rapidly aging. The average trade worker Is over 50 years old and approaching retirement. Employers are desperate to recruit enough replacements. That’s the good news for young people entering the trades. The bad […]
The Trades & AI
The news media is filled with stories about the wondrous achievements of Artificial Intelligence, usually shortened to “AI.” AI is the most advanced form of computer technology, with the machines programmed to adapt and learn things not included in the original computer coding. Some experts regard it as the initial step for computers to become […]
College Degrees Continue To Lose Their Luster
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal caught my attention. It described laws enacted in 10 states during the past year to do away with the requirement of a college degree for government jobs. Georgia, Florida, Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey, North Caroline, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah and Virginia now are able to fill state […]
20 Reasons To Explore The Trades
1. More than one in six skilled tradespeople end up owning their own business and another 20% become partners in a business. 2. 30% of small business owners have no more than a high school diploma. 3. Construction is the most popular profession for people who own their own businesses. 4. The average cost to […]