Skilled trades can't be shipped overseas....but then again the job requires physical work and I know too many younger people who scoff at the idea of labor.
Not here to argue because I would agree that the trades are probably the most secure on average- but even those are no longer as secure as they once were. I’ve seen more large companies use or consider using foreign tradespeople for things like on site or mobile projects. If you have many scattered locations, you’re going to need to pay travel etc. to cover them all anyway unless you contract to like 10+ smaller local vendors- and then it can be a real headache with consistency, payments, accountability etc. a foreign company which either is from or has operations in Mexico of Canada and supplies mobile technicians- by using one or two vendors you can often cover all or most of the USA, and many times the costs are comparable or even favorable to using domestic tradesman.
When coupled with the increasing change in operations by many companies to outsource to third parties as much as possible in order to cut overhead and start up costs (third party server hosting, third party software applications vs. in house, third party product and IT support, third party facilities maintenance and other trade labor, etc) it is a logical “next step” as you don’t need to maintain healthcare or insurance etc, on boarding expenses, and unlike independent contractors these contract employees can be directed with more precision.
So the trades are still a smart career- but they aren’t as safe as they once were. Even defense projects which we once would have required domestic labor are being outsourced.
Sure any job can be outsourced, but an experienced electrician, a master carpenter, a master welder will always have a job. You can hire all the whoever labor you want but you still need the skill and knowledge to get the job done right. And with today's litigious society most companies want everything done correctly.
Also when you hire a tradesman from out of your area, service and repair becomes a real hassle. If you need electrical repairs done now you won't wait for a technician to drive down from Ottawa if you're in Delaware.
I understand what you are saying but from my experience, a skilled tradesman...who put effort into the job...will always have work.
But what I come across are people who claim to be a carpenter or welder etc. And they are no more skilled than an apprentice.
One case in point, a coworker just passed his master electrician test and is licensed as such. He worked is butt off to learn everything he needed to learn. He has more work than he knows what to do with. He put in the effort, he did the work. It is paying off and his job will never be outsourced. He never sat down and whined about how it's too hard.
Why do you assume Canadian/Mexican labor wouldn't have the skill or knowledge? Not gonna lie, the Mexican contractors around here are just as skilled and have twice the work ethic. As most people in my area have some basic Spanish speaking skills they won't even try to skimp you either unless you are an obvious moron or a jackass.
I don't assume Canadian or Mexican labor doesn't have the skill. Anyone can have skill and knowledge. I was merely trying to give a counterpoint to _guest's mention of using labor from other countries.
Why do you assume I meant otherwise? Why do people try to turn things into some kind of social issue? Why do people look for things to be offended by? When speaking of people having skill should I mention all races, countries, and genders? Why do I bother saying anything? Whatever.
Here, I'll say it for you. OK boomer.
". You can hire all the Canadian/Mexican labor you want but you still need the skill and knowledge to get the job done right. "
Because there is a very obvious implication in that statement. There are about 10,000 other ways to phrase your point and not making that obvious implication, so I kinda just went with Occam's Razor.
Anyway, if I'm a boomer, this country is doomed.
Everybody is fair game when they deserve it. You're mistake is when you lump a group of people together and then try to correct it by just substituting a different group of people and go "but but but". Either the person has the skills and knowledge or they don't. It's that fucking simple. What is even funnier is that you seem to think any corporation gives a flying fuck about the nationality of their labor. It's dollar dollar bills; end of story for them.
Lol. This is a hoot. I won’t jump into the implication debate. I will say that yeah. It’s sad to me that a “technician” isn’t what it was in general at one time. Finding actual craftspeople- artists with a torch or tool- it’s hard. That I blame largely on corporations. It stopped paying to know everything there is to know. Velocity model- knock down construction. You don’t usually NEED people who know what they’re doing. You need people who can work like an assembly line. It’s usually cheaper to replace than repair anyway so having someone know how to fix components doesn’t matter in dollars when you can but a new unit and pay someone 1/4 as much who knows 1/16 as much to slap the new one in. Things are built to be able to be serviced by morons- so you just need a pulse to R&R.
The difference between being barely competent and being great is one coworkers and the like will appreciate- but on the profit sheets it doesn’t make much difference. And quality wise... you plan to move locations or upgrade or sell out to a bigger company and cash in your IP anyway- modern profit model- so you don’t care if it all falls to shit in short order or doesn’t hold up 40+ years.
So it is sad. I see many skilled jobs where what is now mastery was once not even basic proficiency. When the shit welds on your $20 floor lamp break most people consider it a chance to redecorate and buy a $20 floor lamp that looks different- or splurge and buy the $30 floor lamp because they’re doing better than they were. They’ll buy 10 replacements in their life but won’t buy the $200-400 one that will outlive their grandkids because it’s too much. So the guy that makes the good lamp isn’t worth keeping around.
I agree that it's a shame how shitty products have become, but is that the person that builds them or purposeful design flaws? A LOT of things we buy are designed to break down quicker as it increases profits when we buy them again. From the perspective of the corporation is that really a flaw? I wish it weren't true, but we both know it is exactly what they want. There are always anomalies though, Musk, for example, is an anomaly... but the potential revenue of him actually getting it right is so astronomically (pun intended) absurd, it's worth it.
Even with Musk though, it's "can you do the job?"... if you can, aight, let's get to work.. he doesn't care if you're from an undiscovered tribe in the indo-pacific. Do the fucking job.
Well- it’s not a “flaw” exactly- it’s just something I’m not a fan of and perhaps something that isn’t long term sustainable. As for Musk... I’ve known the man, I’ve worked for the man..... he’s... Himself. But it’s not all about him exactly. He may be certain ways but the others in some of his companies may not be. At least for certain of his ventures being able to do the job isn’t the main way in the door or the main way to success and longevity. It all depends on the job too- but even for technical staff.
And “do the job” well... that can mean- at all costs, whatever it takes, no excuses. The success or failure of a project rises in many things- but you mention “is the design flawed..” imagine you make the design how you were told to make the design. You suggest things that aren’t done. You get approvals and sign offs and make it clear that isn’t the design you think is best when you’re the one who’s supposed to be doing the design. You’re over ruled. It gets made. Everyone is happy. Consumers don’t like the design. They want the design you proposed that didn’t get selected. The project fails. It is your fault. Your job was to make the project succeed. They hire someone new. They make your design off your notes. It succeeds. They’re a hero. Until something not related to them at all goes wrong. Then whoever is least liked is at fault.
That's what I mean, he has a reputation (and you could probably confirm it or not) of working employees to exhaustion. Obviously if you worked for him you have a much more educated perspective, I'm just commenting on what I've heard; repeatedly.
Lol. No shade from me. I can say that some of the ventures he is involved with- at one stage or another in their development, can be demanding- and most people won’t work directly with him so their experience is more reflective of others in the organization. Overall the idea that many who work for various ventures tied to him and report being overworked or stressed out would be very believable.
Developing a skill like getting our "leaders" to enforce the law and respect the constitution. If these immigrants want to live in a decent country so bad, they can use all that energy and "bravery" to fix their own.
Also when you hire a tradesman from out of your area, service and repair becomes a real hassle. If you need electrical repairs done now you won't wait for a technician to drive down from Ottawa if you're in Delaware.
I understand what you are saying but from my experience, a skilled tradesman...who put effort into the job...will always have work.
One case in point, a coworker just passed his master electrician test and is licensed as such. He worked is butt off to learn everything he needed to learn. He has more work than he knows what to do with. He put in the effort, he did the work. It is paying off and his job will never be outsourced. He never sat down and whined about how it's too hard.
Why do you assume I meant otherwise? Why do people try to turn things into some kind of social issue? Why do people look for things to be offended by? When speaking of people having skill should I mention all races, countries, and genders? Why do I bother saying anything? Whatever.
Here, I'll say it for you. OK boomer.
Because there is a very obvious implication in that statement. There are about 10,000 other ways to phrase your point and not making that obvious implication, so I kinda just went with Occam's Razor.
Anyway, if I'm a boomer, this country is doomed.