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Examples of Industrial Jobs in demand:
Electricians
Electronics
Machine programmers
Machinists
Welders
Millwrights
Pipefitters
Pump repair
Industrial Automation
rocketjoe79 saysExamples of Industrial Jobs in demand:
Electricians
Electronics
Machine programmers
Machinists
Welders
Millwrights
Pipefitters
Pump repair
Industrial Automation
I am six of those.
Everyone keeps saying “go into the trades.”
I get it — but here’s my real experience:
Called a local company to fix an icemaker on a 2007 fridge that still runs great.
Tech shows up.
Takes a picture.
Can’t fix it.
Charges $99 just for showing up.
Then quotes me $1,300 to replace the icemaker.
So I do what everyone can do now:
I ChatGPT the model number.
In 2 seconds:
• Exact replacement part
• Direct phone number
• Cost: $300
Installation?
2 screws.
10 minutes.
I’ll do it myself.
Same thing happened with my pool heater:
Repair guy quoted $2,000.
I bought the part directly and fixed it myself for under $200.
The problem isn’t the trades.
It’s that information asymmetry is gone —
and some businesses haven’t realized it yet.
Same thing happened with my pool heater:
Repair guy quoted $2,000.
I bought the part directly and fixed it myself for under $200.
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Problem #1 is that Wawa's and McD's and Aldis are paying $15-16/hr + $250-500 signing bonuses to HS Students (not Grads, Students) to do menial jobs, but a lot of these big professionally run complexes still think they can get a 10-year maintenance guy to work F/T for $18/hr with no to little benefits.
Immigrants aren't going to solve this problem; for starters, Mexican/Guatemalan farmers can't troubleshoot modern HVAC systems. They can use electric tape on a frayed fan cord, but diagnosing a 2-year old Carrier is beyond their abilities.
2022 will be the all time high for people turning 65 and eligible for Soc Sec. Maintenance involves a bit of stooping and schleping and many don't want to do it into their 60s.
Instead, the 30-40 year old guys who are a bit handy are charging a fortune to landlords and homeowners to take care of things, doing far better in business for themselves than they could as F/T employees. $18/hr versus charging $50 to show up and $30/hr to fix leaky faucets, clean airducts, etc.