America is in Crisis: No Freakin' Tradesmen!

[@waynerogers1229]

This video started with a grand misconception. I've never in 23 years as a carpenter made $100,000 a year. " truth dart" - the reason young people don't want these jobs is two fold. 1- Money= tradesman today make the same they did 15 years ago or even less if you consider inflation. 2- Risk to reward= a tradesman is required to have thousands of dollars in tools and equipment,the ability to fix problems and to use and abuse his body to get the job done. So.... Duh, why would someone turn down a job making even $40-$50k a year where you bring a lap top and work in ac all day. Sorry Nutn, I appreciate your romanticism of good ole days craftsmanship, but I don't blame these kids for doing other things.

[@zed-xr4353]

Why you gotta be bringing them data points in here and be raining all over the "ye olde" parade ?

[@abcdef-kx2qt]

exactly the true facts

[@shortchubbyneckbeard1681]

Justin Uehara 🤣👏👏

[@ThePeriquito51]

absolutely right....and we keep getting new tools all the time...that never existed..and they keep getting more expensive...and the battery thing is a fool's paradise...cause you need to keep paying expensive batteries...and their resale value as used.....drops like hell....not like a quality cable tool....ad besides ....I would guess the strain of a tradesman in a year...must be equal to 5 years office work...i know...I have done both...plus the injury risks...which are huge....an office worker goes much much less to the doctor than a tradesman does

[@christined9210]

Well said!

[@renaissanceman5847]

Here is the problem with the trades right now...you make good money yes. But you are never home. Weekends, holidays, late nights etc. and no family life. Why? cause the business owner who has a business degree is pushing the project to be done fast and yesterday. So the pencil pushers make the real money pointing fingers and playing golf, while the tradesman is breaking bones, getting cut up, blistered and working in the heat or freezing cold and eating breakfast, lunch and dinner out of a food truck. The idea of working day in and day out and no room for family or recreation is not a way to live. Improve working conditions and control the draconian hours, get control over the certification process and regulation on business and the trades will improve.

[@Andy-zg8wq]

Early retirement

[@gfunk62]

I disagree. most time I work 7 days a week, i still go to nice restaurants and see movies, i can afford to put my wife and kid in a nice home, I dont worry bout my car breaking down. the week before we do 70 hours we get asked how late we can stay, and we all want that money. when I want a day off or two, or a week... it's no more trouble than asking ahead of time. lifes hard, are you just gona complain about it? I'd rather put in some time and get a nice paying career where I can cuss out my boss and not even worry bout even a write up. I dont know what other people did, but I went shipyard, picked somethin I liked and I only wish I did it straight outta high school. I can go nationwide for work, even foreign countries if I wanted, and I would get housing and per diem on top of regular pay plus sign on bonuses if possible....like I said, are you one to just complain bout life being hard?

[@SierraOscarLima1]

Excuses, all of it. If you think you can be the boss - do his job. Work, if you did what a boss did to get into his position - you wouldn't be on here complaining about boss pay. To run and have my own company, to be a defense contractor - I saved, I invested my own money, I starved to death for the first 3 years, working 400-450 (still do) hours a month creating a business from the ground up. I wouldn't have an employee that looking from the outside in is already complaining about what I got because you don't even have the skill set to understand how I did it all. If you want to make money, if you want to take care of your family - you are going to have to make quality time for them and work.

[@SierraOscarLima1]

Also, to add, even though I have my own business I am still an employee of the companies that contract me out. The more money/golf time the other company has comes down to 99 times out of 100 that guy has to pay me and has a more disciplined company for future work.

[@jamesboyd4260]

The shortage would go away overnight if they paid more. Now they are realizing nobody wants to move to the country to pay high rent for shit wages.

[@YVRSURF]

$22 bucks to run a job , screw that , no wonder there is a shortage , Maybe pay them what they are worth and there wont be a shortage

[@Andy-zg8wq]

Cobalt nigga 22$ Is a lot, I bet your 3 and Never has a job

[@Wrenchingandnursing]

$22 is a lot when you are young. Once you are settled into your mid to late thirties and have the right experience and skills to be a crew leader for a skilled trade, it is pathetic. imagine having over ten years of experience under your belt doing something that not very many people can do, but bucko who went to a 4 year college starts off at $28 dollars in an office doing work with no experience.

[@ctemple466]

Cobalt I You are so right

[@martyshelton1915]

Pipefitters in Nevada make $81/hr.

[@RichKilla86ers]

Depends on the state’s wages

[@alphanumeric1529]

When I was in Law School, my hot water heater crapped the bed. I was spending 19-20 hours a day in class or studying, every single day, seven days a week in a very competitive environment for three years. At the same time, I was looking at various career paths and the picture was not to bright. This two man plumber team came to replace the hot water heater, they were both stoned, laughing, I talked to one of the guys, he was apprenticing, he said he was on track to make $110k that year. I was thinking, most attorneys don't make that. THEN I looked at the bill for Law School, $130,000... What a seriously bad mistake I made.

[@yeahbee8237]

the problem is that higher education was so much emphasized in the last 25 years, like without a college degree you are nothing, and than when those people can't get jobs the older generation bitch about them not wanting to work menial jobs (excuse me if I use the wrong word english is not my first language) Academics are great but maybe should not be the end all of education. correct me if I am wrong but high school is the same for everyone in the US? that is not the case in my country, first 9 years of basic school then you chose a school, either a academic preparation either science based or social based or a mix, or a trade-preparation. some of the trade-schools are so wanted that they actually have a higher grade requirement. so when you are 18/19 year old you can jump into a apprentisship but get paid while doing so.

[@longcutarizona9816]

You hit a nail on the head. Hard work and life experience will ALWAYS be better than education from a text book. I'm a guy wrapping up a Juris doctorate and I'll admit that. Then again, I've worked and still work in fields that require hard work and have taught me a lot.

[@domenik8339]

LongCut Arizona My god I hope children don't read that. Stay in school kids. Every single statistic says it's worth it. Do your own research on it and decide what you think is best.

[@nicholasquintero1080]

Yeah Bee crazy I didn't read your post and literally posted the exact same thing.

[@xanderchristensen6068]

Kommst du aus Deutschland?

[@yeahbee8237]

Xander Christensen Nein ich bin Schwedish but that is as far as my german goes (: similar in Germany? atleast according to my history knowledge we copied your system anyway

[@Taylordtech]

Front running Millennial here ('84). The general attitude towards people in my generation here kinda pisses me off. Have I done trade jobs? You bet. I started out doing kitchen cabinetry for 2 years, apprenticed as a plumber for a year, and worked as a car mechanic for 3 years. All of this covered from early High School through the first 2 years of college. So why didnt I go into a trade? For me it came down to 3 things: 1) Unions, Boards, and forced progression. The trades are largely controlled by trade unions and state licensing boards. Want to be an electrician? Not without a license from the state! How do you get that license? Well as an apprentice working for someone else. What does an apprentice make? Oh thats right...not much more than flipping burgers. Most states have codified these Apprentice/Journeyman/Master progressions, once a matter of the professions union or guild, into law. There is no way around it. If you start off as an electrician today in Colorado, its a minimum of 2 years and 4000 hours on the job before you can even test for a "Wireman" license and another 4 years and 8000 hours before you can test for Journeyman. Do I want the person working on my home to know what they are doing? Absolutely. Do I want to work in a job where progression in my profession is hard gated by the government? No thank you. Whats the answer? Im not 100% sure but I feel like it should lean more on knowledge demonstration and less on time spent. 2) The people making serious money arent doing the physical work. You alluded to this in your video, but 9 times out of 10 the person actually making serious money (1.5x to 2x the regional average) are the business owner. That entails a lot more than turning wrenches, cutting pipes, or running wires. Bidding projects, dealing with customers, managing accounts payable/receivable, hiring/firing...its a lot of shit that most people would rather not deal with. Not to mention the risk that comes along with owning your own business. One bad lawsuit can ruin a company and if you dont set it up right can ruin you personally too. If you dont want to deal with those things you are going to find that youre pretty well capped. Can you work for someone else as a master tradesman and make more than your peers? Sure...but you arent going to make nearly as much money as you could in many other lines of work. 3) The people who are in the trades and doing the work tended to age faster. Now this one isnt 100% uniform and it might have just been my perception...but in general guys out doing the work tended to look and act 10-15 years older than their peers. Guys in their 40s had aches and pains like they were in their 50s and guys in their 50s would sometimes have trouble keeping up (I think this is actually why the master plumber I worked for took me on). Its easy to romanticize manual labor and man it feels GOOD to spend a day working on a project and see it come together. But doing that every day, day in and day out for 30 years, just leaves you sore and tired. Its the same thing as with living in the wilderness in your bugout video. It might work for some people, but you have to understand what you are signing up for. Again, not everyone ends up this way. People who take care of themselves fare much better. Generally though the harder you push your body the more it takes a toll on it. So 20-something me, back at the turn of the millennium, looked at this and said "no thanks, not for me". I went over to my colleges business school and havent looked back. 5 years out Im making what a master tradesman would make being the team lead for a DevOps group at a tech company. I ultimately think I am happier than I would be doing a trade job too. I didnt get to this job by skating. I buckled my ass down and worked hard my last few years of college. I did internships in the summer and kept working on my skills, even outside of work (something I still do today). I also didnt start here. I started out allocating retail goods from distribution centers to stores. This lead to learning to plan a retail line. At one point I got fed up with the manual processes we used for allocating and developed from scratch an allocation system. I then had several quick jumps that got me where I am. I still dabble in trade work on personal projects. I do most of my own car maintenance. This weekend I installed 2 ballast light fixtures in the garage. When we moved into our last home I laid 800+ sqft of hardwood on the main level. Right now Im putting together a plan to take out a wall between our entryway and mud room to make the area more open and plan to do the work myself. That doesnt mean I want to do it professionally though. Honestly, for people who dont have a job it probably has less to do with what work they are pursuing but how they approach work in general. You have to work hard for anything worthwhile. You have to keep up skills and seek to expand them on your own. You have to put in more effort to stand out from your peers. Because believe me...you can put in minimal effort in a trade job, top out as a journeyman, and end up no better off (or worse!) than others in easier lines of work. I love your philosophy videos and they are what got me to sub to your channel, but I cant help but feel you missed the mark slightly on this one, especially at the end. Just my $0.02

[@MarkJones-sk6vk]

Great reply. I agree 100%

[@Oldhogleg]

Investing one's own time and resources to create opportunities for one's self is were the vast majority fail! Today's generation want the rewards before paying their dues and investing some of their skin into it! I've hired people on week one, by week two they're already pestering me to promote them to running other employees. By week three they're beginning to fail in showing up for work. By week five they've disappeared. By week six they stop by for their last pay check! That is the typical employment cycle of today's generation!

[@pavXX]

Good reply. I seriously considered continuing as an auto mechanic, but the constant bending over the engine compartment.. I just knew that long-term I'd pay for it with my physical health. Great profession, I enjoyed what I did, but yeah long-term I had better options. The BIG thing with the trades is def running something as your own biz.

[@Taylordtech]

Exactly +pavXX. If you dont own it, you dont make much. The master plumber I apprenticed was a sole proprietor and made good money topping out houses but damned if he didnt pay for it physically. He was maybe 50-55 and couldnt go up a ladder anymore. He had a journeyman and 2 apprentices working for him that did all the drilling, cutting, soldering, and fitting. He would plan the runs and explain stuff to us younger guys but that was about all he could do if the work was up high. Even if you do get to where you own your own gig and make some good money (most who want to do), its really hard to get there before it breaks you down.

[@Taylordtech]

+mike kline - The real takeaway from nutinfancy's video should be "be an expert", not "do a trade". He started harping on it at the end but I dont feel that it came across enough as the core message. The thing is that the real message ("be an expert") applies to everyone from doctors down to welders. My specialty is technical application of business processes. Im REALLY good at listening to people talk about how they conduct their business, looking at their systems, and making the two match up in a way that improves their work or makes their work easier. Its mentally challenging work because I have to know several different areas and its not something you can just go take a class in. Id really encourage you to up your game in some way and think big. Logistics is one way (I actually have my degree in Supply Chain Management and Logistics from the University of Tennessee), but also look at some other related areas like Process/Industrial Engineering and Production Management. The world is only going to get more automated and people who know how to use automation intelligently and how to do real work will have a HUGE leg up on people who just have a degree.

[@PrivateerXTR]

Tradesmen are reaping what they sowed. In the 90s getting an apprenticeship was likened unto indentured servitude. No tradesman would take any apprentices who didn't do years of grunt work or underpaid unlicensed plumbing under their direction. I understand why.. 40 years old with mortgages and families.. you can't risk losing work to some kid. Fast forward to 2016. A whole generation of workers defeated before they could start. Just because things were tough in the 90s. I would have been a plumber right now.. dirty hard work included. But.. when the adds all read. No apprenticeships. You don't take that job. Behold the result.

[@toddeisgruber1947]

Agreed with this 100%. I worked in construction around that time. I worked my tail off for crap money, had no medical insurance and no vacation time. I watched all of my non-construction working friends move on with new cars, houses, vacations and expanding bank accounts while I sat there struggling to put food on my table. I got an opportunity to work as a computer tech and took it. I instantly got a $3/hr raise and Within 4 years was making double plus what I was making in construction. I did pipe fitting and copper roofing and was treated like a dog in both fields. I went into tech and got better pay, benefits, paid time off. Now I make a fantastic living as an IT project manager. As was mentioned, this was in the 90's. Maybe things are different now but back then everyone I worked with besides the guys that owned the companies was making jack squat. We weren't allowed to discuss pay but I dug around a little and discovered I was actually being paid slightly above average at $10/hr. The mechanics I was working with were making $14. Not much to look forward to. I had been copper roofing for 4 years at that point. If there is a lack of workers today it is because the contractors of the past crapped on their workers with high demand/low paying/no benefit jobs and nobody wants to bust their ass for peanuts. I loved copper roofing and wish I could have continued. I didn't want to live in slums for the rest of my days so I went elsewhere.

[@Jsummer4004]

Todd Eisgruber things are not different and I'm praying for something similar to happen to me. See my previous comment

[@PrivateerXTR]

All they have to say is.. I'll give you an Apprenticeship in a year. And it's all good. I would work for the apprenticeship. But when they won't say it.. no agreement. Your just an employee. Not a plumber in training.

[@stevendee2831]

so true I got rejected all the time , I begged for work daily on job sites trying to frame houses or drag off trash. they hired cheap foreign labor instead. told me it was cheaper to hire them than to pay me for even part time.

[@PrivateerXTR]

Foreign workers fill slots that exist. I never complain about a job filled. However, when you ship in a worker to fill a slot that csn be filled by a local worker and that worker is turned away due to things like no apprenticeships... that's just naked greed. Why train a fellow tradesman when you can underpay a skilled peon who is just bloody glad to have a year of steady work!

[@bebop4one105]

I finally woke up and joined my local IBEW to become an electrician. I'm still a first year apprentice but moving to the trades from an office job was the best thing I've ever done. My mom had good intentions but she pushed really hard for me to go to college and get an office job when I was a teenager. I used to look down on the trades because I thought wearing a tie and having my own corner cubicle somehow made me superior. As it turns out I was the inferior one because the skills I used to do my office job didn't translate to anything real. This video is so right on. We are running out of skilled workers because every parent out there believes their child has to be a lawyer, doctor, or tech expert. In the IBEW for instance we have a large number of members who are close to retirement age and not enough young men and women to replace them all. If college isn't for you (it sure wasn't for me) and you want to learn real life skills that you can use anywhere then join a trade. The money is excellent and it's good, honorable work!

[@gregh1579]

Hey Nutn I own a HVAC company in Texas and although I haven't watched the whole video I feel I need to comment. It is nearly impossible to find quality employees that have the skills and tools to perform the job. Our company is 56 years old and I've personally been in business businesses for 30 years so I feel I have a good perspective of the industry. Six years ago we spent over 700k recruiting and training new employees. Three years ago we obtained a state license for a HVAC trade school. There are federal and state funds that will provide the means to attend a trade school and still we find people just simply aren't willing to work. The traditional trade schools have failed most industries by soliciting people to attend school knowing full well that the person isn't qualified to be employed because of criminal backgrounds ect... To the guy that says 100k isn't possible your wrong. I have multiple employees in the field wearing a tool belt making over a 100k. I wish I had more. I know owners all the the country that are more than willing to pay over a 100k to the right person willing to work hard and learn everyday. If your not that person then do whats necessary to become that person. If you want an hourly wage and security you will never reap the real benefits of your skills. Seek a company that gives you opportunities yo be all you can be and rewards your success. I have a guy that was cleaning fish tanks six years ago and had zero HVAC experience but he had drive and determination. yhis year he will earn north of 200k.

[@nutnfancy]

Thank you for the outstanding comment and information by someone who is in the trenches doing this critical, honorable work! You echo perfectly the information I try to impart here. Many of the younger generation are full of excuses and reasons why they can't work, or this or that obstacle stands in their way. None of it hold water with me in my research and many 100s of guys like you saying the same thing. 100K is reachable to the hard working and dedicated as you state. And even if you make what, $60,000 annual at age 25, you are doing well! -nutnfancy actual

[@phoenixmarizzle5059]

You can add "chef" to this video.....

[@jjdoe1900]

what do you pay your journey men??

[@Jsummer4004]

Maybe it is that way in Texas, here in Phoenix that just doesn't exist. I'm a residential hvac tech, been in the field 3 years now, I'm making 50 a year on average, watching guys much better and more experienced than I am make "the big bucks" at 75-80 a year. What are we doing wrong? Why can't we see 100k here?

[@Jsummer4004]

usmc112 1990 now I'm gonna start looking into moving to Texas lol

[@gonzoe123]

Speaking from personal experience as an Automotive Technician. A lot of companies don't want to hire new technicians or if they do they set such high expectations/performance goals that you can't achieve as a new technician. Things have become too corporate, even at the mom and pop shops. Proper education and training is hard to find, apprenticeship programs are also hard to find. There is a meme going around the internet about jobs saying you need experience to get a job but you can't gain experience because no one will hire you. There may be plenty of job openings, but businesses need to be willing to hire inexperienced workers and train them.

[@SRT480]

look for young hard working mechanic 25 to 30 years old needs 25 years experience with a degree.

[@bradley6386]

Probably true. I just got an apprenticeship with literally 0% experience though. Got thrown onto a team of highly experienced veterans in masonry and they have been patiently teaching me from the ground up. It's possible to get in without experience

[@HealAllTrauma]

I found a good family owned company that's willing to teach under an HVAC apprenticeship so I'm with you on that. It took awhile for me to find it and I've been working two jobs since I found this opportunity. Best of luck in your career.

[@user-ru2yk3wq5z]

Yes but car companies don't want to hire new tech because because they don't want to walk Hard the company's set high standards because they want to who is driven to actually walk for them.

[@77thNYSV]

All you millennial haters need to get one thing straight - we're the ones who have been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. We're the ones who grew up in the country you old people created for us. So if us millennials are so fucked up, just remember this one thing - you raised us.

[@jmyersv1]

I'm fucked up. have massive ptsd and other problems, and didn't even go overseas. Most people think pretty highly of me but my dad the other day said I'm wrong about almost everything

[@jmyersv1]

RCDriftChaser Ha me not going overseas wasn't for lack of trying. Sure, call me what you want.

[@MrDanielWP]

When people talk about millennials, they're usually talking about other people's kids. I certainly didn't raise you. I don't support giving everyone a trophy, grading in purple ink, or any other part of self-esteem movement that occurred over the last 30 years. Generation X (my generation) didn't have much of that garbage and I had nothing to do with it coming to pass. I mean, when I was in school, I actually could defend myself in a fight with another a kid without my parents having to go to court or pay fines - imagine how often I was bullied or how many of my friends got bullied? (Hint: it wasn't much.) The problem is that millennials were raised by the people who are mostly 50-60 right now. Many of those people are Yuppies. Those Yuppies were raised by Hippies. Understand, it is not society as whole that is to blame, rather certain segments. And, ultimately, you are responsible for whether or not you are a good person, work hard, and have integrity. Blaming the rest of society for your choices Is what those fools taught their kids. So, when you read about hate for Millennials, understand that a large number of you have parents and grandparents that are equally hated. They certainly were disliked by my family for the last 3 generations.

[@jetpowered1]

77thNYSV Damn well said!

[@libertyprime9307]

Pretty much. People are all products of their environment. It's a combination of shitty job economy and shitty parenting. My parents never did anything to prepare me for adult life, I just sort of winged it. Never taught me to drive, never bought me a car or a college education... actually my mom was the one who told me to drop out of high school my senior year. I later went to job corps and got my GED, high school diploma, driver's license and a trade there. And when I did get a job for minimum wage, I had to walk a few miles there back and forth until I saved for a vehicle. For today's job economy where almost everyone has transportation, it's just not viable to do that sort of thing. Most of us are at the mercy of our parents more than people realize.

[@Roux-AtlasCreation]

Biggest issue in finding work in trades; everyone wants previous experience. Doesn't matter if I'm the hardest worker, they don't even let me in the door because I haven't had work experience in the field. I have got an associates degree, and it does absolutely nothing for me in getting a job either. The whole system is messed up imo.

[@yeahbee8237]

the problem with many manual jobs is that yes you earn more from the get go but you pay the price with your body, you wear yourself out. I do liek the fact that I can honestly say that I have worked on the factory floor (:

[@pistoreloyankee15]

what bullshit. You don't have the core strength to work. Your a lazy copout. Only a unintelligent moron would wear himself out or get hurt and become a liability.

[@VictoryOrValhalla14]

Pistorelo Yankee are you fucking kidding me ? I put 20 yrs into the Infantry and I'm busted up to shit. There are jobs out there that by there very existence require you to sacrifice your body.

[@ramsfan6237]

Wrong. My father is one of the physically strongest people I know. Worked as a phone technician at GE for 30+ years. He's been out on disability for the last almost 2 years from two surgeries to repair his shoulder. I can see a difference in his strength from when I was a kid until now, it destroys your body, but he makes really good money and they are BEGGING for him to come back to work because they need him so bad.

[@143DREWID]

You comprehend that govt and industry do consider the worker to be expendable. Even to "get ahead" as self employed one must take risks beyond safety margins and repetitive motion injuries. From Alaskan fishing fleet to urchin diver east coat winters to boat building and painting between all jobs as dad taught me at 11, you must maintain ones own body. For injury compensating exercise to stretching. Spend the few $$ and see physical therapist. Oh, add in motorcycle and car wrecks, a bunch of 'em, I am still operable and hopefully till I fall over dead.

[@murphysmuskets]

Newsflash! Everyone's body gets old and wears out! In fact being sedentary actually accelerates the process! I really hate it when I hear people giving this retarded excuse!

[@DaveyCooter]

I work in a factory building washing machines. The current turnover rate of new hires, meaning how many of them quit before their 90 day probation period is up, is more than 50%. This is a company that has been in business since 1908. They used to cut people checks to retire early so that new, faster, younger, guys could get hired and take their places. The exact opposite is happening now. They're practically scavenging for hard working young men and women to stay and make a career. This said, there is far more going on here than just young people not wanting to work. With little exception, every time the union and company agree to a new contract, the workers lose a little more. We don't have a pension plan anymore, the pay scale is extremely low for new hires and caps out after 18 months if you don't move to another position in the plant with a better pay tier, the insurance is a joke. I don't blame anybody for not staying and working with us. We aren't working to make a living for ourselves anymore. We're working to make money for the company. That's all there is to it.

[@joey6704]

Exactly. Not sure how your company is ran, but I've seen it plenty. Companies want the world, but will pay bottom of the barrel for it. Why should anyone work 40+ hours a week, when their pay at the end of the month isn't enough for bills. That's like spending your entire life working for nothing.

[@MarkJones-sk6vk]

Yep worked on commercial trucks because I was told it paid well. Nope at least not there. And the old guys worked from 5 pm through the night 12 plus hour shifts. 6 day one week 5 the next, repeat. 2 day weekend your exhausted. Barely able to enjoy time with the family.

[@JK20239]

Davey Bednarek this is everywhere. Corporate is like this as well..

[@Jdmsword14]

Man this is some gold here for anyone wanting a career listen to this man and get to work

[@lineflyer100]

you should lead by example.....you go first

[@domenik8339]

He's as big a hypocrite as they come. Nutn didn't do trade work and neither does his son. Dude isn't even following his own advice.

[@ookiemand]

A very dumb excuse. Possibly doing many a great disservice. You assume Nutn is an expert on people's psyche's, and can instantly turn people like his son into highly driven workers? - I happen to know possibly a bit more, as I'm more like that 'artist' opposed to my industrious brother. And for me it has to do with my self trust, self appreciation, stamina, and fear of failing. I'm very sensitive to criticism because that instantly kills my tiny bit of energy and hope I can succeed with the project. Last year I got a new apparently simple job a theme park, I followed Nutn's advice of 'Workers are Few', learned a lot, feeling good about being able to provide an excellent service to the visitors and my employer and noticing how good it feels to be respected by your employer because he truly trust you. From this experience I hope to mentally heal from my lack of trust in myself, and maybe take on a more challenging job later. My father is basically in a worse boat then Nutning Fancy, as I'm a lot older, and still in a fragile financial position. From my perspective I think the best thing that Nutning Fancy can do is find a job with a wise employer who can help last suspect to find success, his employer's trust and appreciation and self-trust. When Last Suspect feels he has earned this employer's trust he can start to trust and value himself, and gain some self confidence needed to take on a new challenge. Last suspect may also benefit a lot from a quiet seperate living space a few miles away from home; so he can mentally relax from concerned dad/mom and the associated thoughts being around ALL THE TIME. I know my parent's concerns are important and real, but I cannot flip a switch and instantly change. Applying more pressure does only harm, because it shows me everyday I can not stand on my own.

[@domenik8339]

thewolfchild He's encouraging people to enter a trade. The airforce is not a trade, it's the military. His own son is not even in a trade. Clearly this isn't the advice he truly believes in. Nutn loves to knock people who don't go out and experience things themselves before talking about them, well in this case, that's him!

[@ookiemand]

Dominik, I'm starting to believe you're thinking in black and white conclusions. If you do, I think you may benefit from asking yourself why you are behaving this way. On the note of hypocrisy, I believe Nutn is an example of strait forward honesty to many, sincerely trying to live his live the best he can, helping others the best he knows how. Maybe your personal experience with people is different/ bad, and you've not run into honest people. Being taken advantage of does make one suspicious of 'nice' people. I'm sorry you've lost faith, your world must be filled with danger and stress, a tiresome depressing experience. Courage.

[@JohnNorris411]

There is a reason, Companies hire Illegals or new immigrants over Americans, not because they work harder, they do not, but because they work for less. I have seen it first hand. That is why you have less American tradesmen, most have given up and had to find other work.

[@nicholasquintero1080]

John Norris I remember when construction, masonry, gen contracting, cooking, electricians, we're all considered skilled trades. That is the exact reason they are not anymore. Now the only way to make a livable wage is to be the owner, architect, chef, engineer, etc.

[@TheHandyman1]

I agree you have to be the owner. Employees still don't make that much.

[@armoredp]

That doesn't explain why many companies are undermanned though.

[@JohnNorris411]

Probably because they can't find "Enough" people willing to do the work for the low wages they are offering.

[@armoredp]

John Norris But then they'd raise the wages so they can find people to do the job. Simple supply and demand.

[@1Jaz5d]

California has lots of trades men coming up from the border, non stop! I work along side with them and many DO work hard and have good skills. Unfortunately, it's hard to compete with that and many times I came close to going out of business. We go over seas to fight for our country yet we're losing it state by state, California being the first. Welcome to the New America!

[@matts3729]

joe Truth

[@brendanbeishuizen5829]

18 year old plumbing apprentice here 👍🏻 been on the grind since HS graduation and I love what I do

[@camassey7]

I'm prior military, and recently finished my journeyman electrical license after getting out. I have found that wages for tradesmen are lacking. I am even considering leaving the trade to go back to school again so I can make a decent income. $20-25 an hour is topping out in my area even as a master electrician. dingbat college grads are making more out of the gate than I am. lots of older guys who have been in the trade see no wage increase for over 15 years. The real money is in having your own company. That's fine, but not everyone can have their own company....local municipalities and cities are far too regulated for small companies to get in the door and make decent money. Nevermind most companies offer no benefits and hardly any vacation time. I have no problem working my ass off but life is short and I need to be compensated adequately for my time. Just saying.

[@ekscalybur]

Not only that, but owning a company is an entirely different animal than being a tradesman. Orders of magnitude more stress, and entirely new levels of bullshit you have to deal with.

[@johnmonty7077]

Wow 25 an hour tops for a journeyman thats insane.

[@SRT480]

Think it depends where you live. I was a mechanic at a gold mine, where pay topped out at 27hr. you get a 2% annual raise but regardless what you do or what you know same pay and that is the highest paying labor job in my town.

[@qwertyui859]

@willl 88 I am both an electrician and a machinist, and I agree with camassey7, the trades are no longer worth it. Wages absolutely suck for what you have to know and what you are expected to be capable of. I have 2 associate degrees and 22 years of experience between both trades. I am quitting to go back to school and get an engineering degree. No longer worth being a worker bee in the U.S.

[@qwertyui859]

@willl 88 I make a lot more than 25 an hour as well, but even $30-$40 an hour is not that much anymore in an area where houses are $300k to start

[@vikingsoftpaw]

There is no shortage of tradesman so to speak. Like trucking, there is a shortage of people willing to drive over-the-road for $25K per year. There are other issues too, like i my area (N.E. Ohio) construction work is very seasonal, and very cyclical. Every company wants experienced, competent employees, few if any are willing to pay the premium to attract them.

[@ajb7396]

totally agree

[@jameslyons5620]

Ditto. I did it all. Construction labor. Electrical apprentice. Survey work. On & on. Pay the money or quit bitching...by the way, USA has a new H2B visa program in the works to import thousands of 2nd & 3rd world immigrants for Blue Collar Jobs in just the same way as they did for tech jobs. Race to the bottom.

[@bobsondugnutt4993]

OTR for only 25k? Thats terrible. dock workers make more.

[@becraftcorey]

I drive a truck and trust me I make 31k just started zero experience none CDL local only OTR class A makes around 75k

[@usdpaulp]

OTR Truckers do not make 75k. I have my own authority and my own equipment. Stay out 6-8 weeks at a time and take very little time off. Sure I gross a ton but after it is all said and done I'm making 60k before taxes. Only guys that make more are the heavy haul and local gas haulers. Most truckers make under 30k their first year and might hit 45k if they never take time off.

[@triggertalk7755]

part of the problem is the PARENTS of those snotty millinnials. they are teaching their kids to have an entitled chip on their shoulder. "go to college, get a REAL job". or "you're too smart to be a dirty carpenter ". "so you WANT to work in shit all day"? (plumber or sanitation tech) then the kids grow up feeling empowered and entitled to "more". I was a carpenter till the 08 housing market crash. loved it. made great money. I did retail mgmt. for years after that (stressful). now I work in the budding market of solar. HEY KIDS, you are NOT special. you are NOT entitled. you only deserve what you EARN. go work for it. put down the iPad or controller, and pick up some tools, and learn something USEFUL. be a MAN.

[@watermelontreeofknowledge8682]

If you go to college for four years, you are MUCH more likely to make more money than you would as a tradesman. There's nothing dishonorable about wanting to make the most money possible and bringing up a prosperous family and society

[@bmstylee]

if you get a real major. if you are an engineer or a nurse then probably. but that ethnic studies major or that art degree are not going to do it.

[@rb_5k249]

I went into the powerline trade 14 years ago. I have never made less than six figures. next time I see someone say that you can make more by going to college, maybe you can, but not likely. I've know so many people that went to college and haven't nor will they touch my success. It's just reality. Plus, I can write a paper better than 95% of them. Thanks for this awesome video NFP!

[@kylevanwinkle2081]

and you'll take 4 to 6 more years to pay off student debt. you can petty easily make 80k a year right out of high school in oil field trades

[@LeviBendiksen]

I am 29 so most of my friends are millennials and I don't know anyone who isn't making good money right now. I am a machinist and most of my friends are diesel mechanics, in construction (plumbing included), or are machinists as well. We are not from the county... in fact we are from about 25 minutes outside if Seattle. I think the lazy millenial is a false stereotype... I'm sure there are plenty of them out there but they are the vocal minority. Obviously I don't have any scientific data to share... that's just my experience.

[@JayWandersOut]

Sadly the Oakland Bay Bridge is an ironic object to discuss dealing with your topic. Large portions of manufacturing was contracted out to a Chinese contractor, brought in, then assembled here. We're not even making bridges here anymore. Even sadder is I guess the bridge is starting to fall apart already due to shoddy welding.

[@adrikubel]

Nutn the shortage is for a reason. In Chicago we had almost 30,000 Union Construction workers of various trades before 2008. that number dipped down to 12,000 at the low point and is now up to about 18,000. All of those people either retired or for the most part went off to do something else. That is why the trades are such a gamble. You have 10K guys who had to go do something else in-order to survive.

[@jameslyons5620]

Thank you for bringing that up! We have thousands of highly qualified tradesman in America that can do high quality work & teach the next generation. Bossman says $10/ hour Nicaraguans are a better choice.

[@8digitPDX]

James Lyons yeah, that's reality, and why getting involved with the unions and licensed contractors can be such a a crapshoot. I worked three years part time for an electrical contractor and it was not counting toward my electrical apprenticeship, but I learned a heck of a lot and had already been doing side work to make up in between periods of employment. The union would expect me to quit both the non Union contractor and the under the table side work while maybe collecting unemployment and food stamps. I guess I chose self respect, which is nonunion pirate construction for cash, no benefits, no welfare, no food stamps, no unemployment. I stay relatively busy but still get slow periods and have to hire licensed electricians in order to get work signed of for inspection and I have to pay senior level electricians more for a day than I will make in a week.

[@SRT480]

Thats the rub, as long as you can get a worker cheaper its good business.

[@brianm5010]

Nut'n, I am 32 years old and own a tool and die shop that designs, builds, and runs large scale progressive dies for the automotive and aerospace industry. Our average age worker is 45+. The pay is VERY good, we have almost a year's worth of work stacked ahead of us, but it is extremely hard to find young talent that 1.) can show up to work dependably, and 2.) want to work. We have apprenticeship programs that are state certified but can't fill the spots. The hard fact is we have pushed college too hard in this country, and made skilled trades looked down upon. No one wants to get their hands dirty anymore, and this is a huge problem! Thank you very much for posting this video. Society needs to learn that $50k+ paying jobs can be landed without college.

[@matts3729]

Brian Mohrman Whereabouts are you? I'm hungry for hard work.

[@tmdaman]

I have a cousin who is an underwater diver welder. He gets to go travel AROUND THE WORLD and repairs oil rigs. Makes WELL OVER $350,000 / year.

[@Rebellion1776]

Extremely dangerous job

[@iamzeusv2]

Can't do that for long. After about 10 years or so, you're done. You're grounded the whole time you're welding so after a couple years your nervous system is all screwed up.

[@bobbyb608]

Joe Johnson oh stfu. Buck up or sit in the truck. Just because you don't have the stones to do it, doesn't mean you have to come online and talk someone down about it.. because at the end of the day someone has to fill that position.

[@P226nut]

tmdaman ok so I work in a trade and I've worked in several, and at one point I thought I like welding and I like diving I'll be an underwater welder. So I researched it, it does pay well but it's a job not a career, you can only do that job for a few years and then you have to quit unless you want to risk severe nerve damage. And every day could be the day you die also, I don't really have an issue with that, but the pay doesn't match the toll it takes on your body IMO.

[@Ratkill9000]

Yeah but that is a small part of the whole picture. They are specialized in underwater welding. You had to start out as the guy monitoring the oxygen level to the guy doing it for God knows how long. I've heard they can start out at about $90 an hour and up from there. No thanks, I'll stay on dry land and not risk my life underwater.

[@antoniog1386]

Another problem is schools don't direct people to the jobs. Look up the High School endorsement system.

[@antoniog1386]

I'm talking about in this context though. I'm under the endorsement system and not once have they discussed trade schools and the careers he is talking about. For them its all about making sure we have a major going out of high school. Unless you have an Ag program at your school like I do, the discussion about trade schools and blue collar careers doesn't usually happen.

[@EthenBergen]

Tony G EXACTLY! I wanted to take a welding class this year at my HS but they don't have a shop so I would have had to drive to a different school everyday. It's so dumb.

[@county582]

Tony G tell me about it, I'm Irish but they told me in school be a block layer! Why? Cus I was a big strong kid!! Became an electrician instead

[@Ratkill9000]

Colleges are the same way. They say they'll help with job searching. Bullshit.

[@antoniog1386]

Congrats. The majority nowadays push college like its the only option.

[@TheHandyman1]

I live in a metro area of 3 million people. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Young educated professionals come here for the jobs and the hipster neighborhoods. They have no diy, home maintenance skills at all. They pay me very well to fix and renovate their homes. It's only going to get better and better for me as more of the millennials move to the city to buy their first home.

[@xxheartbrokexx100]

I'm one of the only people in my trade. I am an audio electronics technician but can fix just about anything if you leave me in a room with it for an hour. It's invaluable to have this knowledge in ROL and especially in WROL. I just turned 19 btw.

[@brewmule6799]

I'm a plumber in St. Louis. Please don't be a plumber. The fewer plumbers we have the more money I can make.

[@coryfoster401]

21 years old. Machine Tech. making more than my peers that graduated college for the most part. 80k a year after taxes yall. Thanks Nutn. Other young folks need to hear this.

[@walker7949]

I'm in high school and teachers and counselors don't have help how did you get into the trades

[@pursuinginsanity]

My local trades school was closed the same year I started high school.

[@SRT480]

They stopped most trade course in my highschool when i graduated in 93. I have never seen a trade school besides automotive ones.

[@outdoorcrazy]

Nutn, you hit this one on the head. I am a 29 year old college graduate who works as a journeyman carpenter. I love my job and I make good money, but almost always I am the youngest of all the guys on the job. As more and more of the older generation retires and there are fewer and fewer guys going into the trades, those who are in the trades are only going to make more and more money. Once a month i get a job offer from another contractor for more money because they NEED guys. Its just simple supply and demand; when the supply is short, those of us who are in the trades become more and more in demand! I LOVE being a tradesman and wouldn't want it any other way.

[@nutnfancy]

Thank you for the great comment Jeff and information by someone who is in the trenches doing this critical, honorable work! You echo perfectly the information I try to impart here. If we had 10,000 young people from this video decide to go into the trades, make good money, achieve success, and be financially secure, these trades would still be critically undermanned. For my small YT Channel though, 10K recruited by this video is my personal goal. -nutnfancy actual

[@jameslyons5620]

Ask the men of your father's generation. They didn't "need" them quite as much back then. Now there's a shortage because the men of a generation ago will do anything to keep their kids out of the cesspool that is the construction trades. They can keep the unlicensed, unskilled, undocumented labor pool they chose over Americans & pick up the slack with their own 2 hands. My advice: develop a viable contingency plan

[@williammorken7484]

its easy man no one wants trades because hours, benefits, and pay is horrible compared to other jobs that a young person can get. I feel like a joke after going to collage for associates in auto mechanics only to graduate and make 90's wages. I work hard I am a smart dude sure there is money on the table but ask any tradesmen how destroyed their body feels after work. 55hrs a week 8-6 m-f, 8-3 sat, horrible benifits, 1 week vacation, top out at 22/hr vs a 40hr a week 9to 5 with family benefits, payed vacation, more room for growth, same cash starting way more later.

[@RedStar-13]

Will noneya I’m a plumber and as a tradesman our top rate is $53 an hour. And we get benefits and vacation time??

[@byronnlangley]

I have seen the corrpution in the "trades" they want slaves for atleast 5 years before topping out at what $25 an hour. My brother is an electrician apprentice and thank god I was able to convince him to attend college this year to become an engineer. The problem with the trades are they dont pay enough. People say a job is only worth what someone is willing to pay..... Looks like no one is willing to do the work for that little pay. Not when a 2 year degree yeids 100k annually, easy work with full bennifits. Retirement is a joke its all about how much you make right at this moment.

[@bradley6386]

Idk after a year in my union you make 25 an hour. I work with guys who are journeymen that make 38-50 dollars an hour

[@arturoerickson1799]

I hear you loud and clear Nut'n. Most kids I run into have no idea how to use, operate safely, or maintain basic hand tools. Blame can be placed at many doors. Remembering the many bosses I had as a mechanic, some were total A holes and the pay stunk. As a tech, you had to move around and find the right shop to get behind. Lots of crappy cheap greedy bosses out there.

[@SKsupport1]

My father is an iron worker, he gets, in his words "shit pay". He has been iron working for almost 30 years. He has been a foreman for a while, and taught me that I should go to college and work in a medical field. Any thoughts?

[@alvictor1291]

I am also probably going into the medical field, even though you do spend a lot more time in school, it is essentially repaid when you get out and your salary is much larger than anyone else's. though specializing is the way to go, unless you want to become general medicine.

[@jacob.davis334]

Robotics and PLCs. starting out $30/hour where I live. It's a 2 year college certification. easily move up to $40/hr with overtime

[@Jsummer4004]

Api Tuia yes, your father is right and nutn has no clue what he's talking about on this subject, trust me.

[@JayWandersOut]

You guys are falling for this mass inability of people to be incapable of thinking outside of extremes. Nutn did NOT say nobody should go to college and everybody should go to a trade. A society needs combinations of every type of job. The problem now is everybody is being told to college and get white collar jobs and that being a tradesmen is beneath them so there is a lack of trade workers these days. There is a balance that society needs and we are currently dangerously swinging towards one direction. If a medical field is something you're interested in definitely go for it but just don't look down your nose at anybody that didn't go to college.

[@alvictor1291]

JayXX I definitely won't, society definitely needs a balance.

[@popacap21]

The surface level research, yields surface level bullshit result.. I started out as a Diesel mechanic working 60 hour weeks.. and most places around here want you to be certified, have a unrealistic amount of tools, for a new guy, have 5 years min. experience and work like a slave.. Fuck that shit, you have to have your standards of mofos will walk over you, its an employers market.. Im now a Jr. System Admin starting out at 46k a year

[@hotfoodonaplate3306]

Also, the out of pocket cost of these for profit schools versus aprentiships, are night and day.. And that does not include the cost of out of pocket for $15 K in tools, test equipment. Now companies want to put you on commission and pay shit wages with no benefits? Yet still charge $120.00 an hour to the customer. And pay a tech $10.? There is a lot of information that you are not talking about.

[@calebtheaquamandepina7888]

Her nutn' I am 19 and I just graduated high school and you just gave me so much direction with this one video. I mean I like to work especially with thing I can make a difference in. I just wanted to say thank you for your direction and support.

[@TheHandyman1]

You need to own the business or work for yourself. Hired employees do not make the type of money you are talking about.

[@XDmSale]

The Handyman I do

[@wildwest1832]

true but skilled trades are a great place to do this

[@goodgearbadplayer1823]

I'm 24 y/o and don't look down on blue collar workers. I was one for 8 years! Been there, done that. I realized I wouldn't want to do hard labor into my 60's. I do miss getting my hands dirty at work and feeling that sense of accomplishment that can only come from manual labor. This video is one huge generalization but I know it is not intended to be.... Oh well, at least I get paid 30/hr to watch Nutn video's from my air conditioned office. Yeah, I have one of those "computer jobs". :)

[@shortchubbyneckbeard1681]

nothing wrong with that - you did the sensible thing and did a cost-benefit analysis of your life and moved on to better things I'm not in the trades, and from what I gather from these comments from people who are, it's a load of bull that many of tradesmen will make nearly 6 figures. Plenty of people are saying that's bullshit and that only a very small minority of them do (rockstars) that seems to be the biggest issue - low wages for long hours of hard labor. So I can't really blame young people (mostly men) for not wanting to pursue the trades. Increase Wages and then you'll more than likely see a huge influx of new young workers going into these fields. I doubt that'll happen though.

[@RadDadisRad]

I'm an electrician. Been doing it 14 years. I'm 32 and it's saturated with old guys. Too much work and not enough people. Not enough young people too many believe that college is the way to go. Yet I make 2x as much as many engineers starting off.

[@nutnfancy]

Exactly, thanks for the reality check. Yes there are few wanting to help you out with the workload. Workers are still few. -nutn

[@TheBlownGSR]

I'm a 26 year old mechanic, i work for an international moving service with an extremely large fleet. i like to work with my hands, i like to come in to the shop at 7AM and fix things , i don't care if i get a little dirty doing it. I would rather wrench on trucks all day, than sit at a computer in a cubicle. However, you can't ignore the fact that some guy who has never fixed ANYTHING in his life, can graduate from college and bring home two to three to four times my paycheck. It's a shame that i may have to quit doing what i love, to become a key stroking robot, just so my family can have a house, and a college fund, and cars that aren't old enough to buy you a beer. I fully support the premise of this video, and TNP as a whole, but unfortunately, being a good hardworking man just doesn't seem to pay anymore. BTW, i had to supply my own tools, and my own knowledge, there was no "training program" , you sink or you swim, all for $13.50/hr.

[@joey6704]

Exactly TheBlown, these jobs pay terrible. So bad infact people think college is the only way to get ahead, and then they go indebt to do it. Very backwards if you ask me. I'm a certified welder, and there's not much work in my area, and my certs don't mean anything to most employers in terms of pay. If you're under 28 most jobs will pay you nothing, and expect everything. I have a very large respect for tradesmen, but the market does not. Yeah we need more tradesmen, but they also need to start making it worth it. No one wants to work a job people look down on, and get paid peanuts to boot. There's certainly exceptions to the rule, but were talking generalities here. It's also funny nutn mentions how you can make 100k a year being a skilled tradesmen. The issue with that, is that only applies to certain places in the country. You either have to move away from your family for a job most people wouldn't wanna give up their family for, or you work for government contractors. Not everyone wants to make weapons for the war machine. I know I don't...

[@josephbasanta]

Yes you make 2x as much as many engineers "STARTING OFF" that is the key word they will soon blow by you and do so in nice air conditioned office be driven or flown to job sites. If they are really good they will be head hunted constantly. You unfortunately will dealing with people constantly try to get you to do your fine work for less or a competitor with illegal under bidding you.

[@RadDadisRad]

Christopher- I make 6 figures as a PM for an electrical contractor. I sit in an office working invoices, sending emails, coordinating tasks with contractors, meetings and such. I have no degree. I started in the trenches like most people have. I have respect for the humble and I don't tolerate people with egos on the job. Granted you do have to travel for the money. Even college grads generally don't stay where they were raised or where they went to college for that matter. If you want work and you want it bad enough you will follow the construction trends and relocate for the benefit of a more posh lifestyle at the concession of not being at home all the time. Government contracts aren't always building "the war machine." Plenty of Davis-Bacon jobs in major cities. You have to pursue the forums and head hunter sites. Also must be on the gun and ready to run. If you want they will give it to you. No time for slackers or excuse makers.

[@CRSFirearms]

Your right , the job I need help for ( no need school , $25 a hour start, ) but you have to get up at 3:30am and not smoke pot ( pass a drug test) you just drive that's it no cdl needed , and we can't fill the positions we turn down contracts because we know we can't find the help

[@forestgrump2168]

Where are these jobs? I don't see help wanted adds. in the Detroit area the unions control and limit the number of apprentices to maximize their overtime. the jobs here are for journeymen, they don't want apprentices .

[@theneighborguy]

dude... ty for this vid! Through sacrifice and effort, I pulled my family of 5 out of poverty and I have a quality of life that many today are not willing to work for. been watching for 4 or 5 years and never comment (maybe once) but definitely felt compelled after this video. Class A CDL, tanker/hazardous materials Waco, TX

[@arkhaiostheos]

Nutn', I am not debating you, but... I am an ASE master certified mechanic for 15 years, I have perfected my craft and worked it all over the world including McMurdo Station, Antarctica. So in the good ole state of CA, I used to pull down great money, but now there are many employers who are willing to hire certain workers who are willing to work for a lot less and are willing to displace knowledgeable people like me for cheap labor. Ask any mechanic here in CA and they will all tell you the same. So it may be good for construction, but making $40 am hour as a mechanic is over where I'm at.

[@stevekathylane1808]

Excellent !!! I am a retired teacher in a small rural community and have preached this for many years! We have a shortage of skilled workers due to many factors but one is the myth of ANY college degree getting you a good job. Most parents believe this as think it is best for their children. When my daughter graduated from high school we told her we would help her get additional education ONLY if it had a direct marketable skill. She now is a RN with a BSN degree. Difficult to convince people a skilled trade can be extremely lucrative! Nephew is a specialized welder and is paid handsomely. Know many former students working at minimum wage as no market for their degree. Makes me so sad!!

[@bmstylee]

"there's a ton of money out there just work." but this generation wants everything given to them and not have to work for for it.

[@pantherof7]

Seriously Nutn is just jerking his viewership off right now. "Millennials am I right?!?" just cant wait for the next fucking circlejerk vid.

[@ryanj116]

I'm 14. Working at an office after school cleaning, taking care of their printers and other mechanical items for $10/hr. All of my friends want the pay, but none of them want to do the work. I agree with Nutn because most people my age genuinely do not want to work, especially doing physical work.

[@77thNYSV]

Hey, this generation is the generation fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan so show some respect. All you older people talk shit on us, but guess who raised us? YOU DID!

[@Myrmidon26]

Good video. My father is a Foreman for an energy company building substations. He started out of the Air Force literally digging ditches. I'm very proud of what he's accomplished. He's become quite the BMW (cars and bikes) enthusiast. I spent way too much time in college studying engineering among other things. I've been working as a machinist in the auto industry for the last 2.5 years making just about the same money as I was expecting to make as an entry level engineer. It's an average week is 50+ hours but it has great benefits. I'm seriously wondering if all that money I took out for college was worth it.

[@myknoway8512]

High School teachers tell students that a four year degree is the only way to succeed in life. Kids are raised to look down on trade jobs.

[@nuke7777777]

if there is shortage of skilled trades man then why is it so god damn difficult to get a job after doing a 3 year college diploma in a relevant field? everyone wants a skilled guy but no body wants to take on an apprentice. it took me 3 month of none stop resume bombardment to finally get hired for practically a minimum wage. my brother trid to become an electrician but no one gave him a chance so he just gave up all together.

[@1edithevans]

People call it skilled workers, but everyone know's it is not worth the money.

[@calebwhittington3749]

Kids are going to college these days, for all kinds of extravagant things, spending loads of money and getting in debt up to their eyeballs and they're coming out and can't find a job because we have to many doctors, to many lawyers, to many CEOs, to many lab technicians and not enough tradesmen. My buddies uncle is in his late 20s and he started last year with no previous experience as a milrite. He started making mid 20s an hour, now just a year later he's running a crew and making upper 30s, and 40s overtime. My dad, went to college for graphic design, didn't even finish I don't think, and now he's making 30-40 an hour designing vessels at an engineering firm for Dow chemical...work is out there, you don't have to go spend 30k on college to get a good job. We don't have a shortage of work we have a shortage of hard working people.

[@a.shakur24]

There’s no shortage of workers. The Unions have hundreds if not thousands of young men on their waiting lists(myself included). I’m currently working as a New Construction Plumber for MINIMUM WAGE with a bunch of guys who don’t speak English well enough to tell me which fitting to get for him. I know even as a helper I’m worth more because I’m driven. I study in my off time, I’m in school for it, and I already had some experience with a mentor I worked with when I was younger. Of course I’m staying for the experience(on paper) and I have to go through the “Vocational Route” since I’m still waiting for the union. I see what you’re saying but I don’t know where these numbers are coming from? If there was such a shortage then driven individuals like myself wouldn’t have such a hard getting in and making a LIVABLE WAGE. I have a few friends in the same predicament if not worse.

[@randallvann7390]

I'm 26. A diesel tech. And I see the lack of "try" out of my own generation. Most guys just show up for the check.

[@lineflyer100]

YOUR A DIESEL TECH BECAUSE A TRADE SCHOOL CONNED YOU INTO IT, AND YOU THOUGHT IT MIGHT GET YOU A JOB PAYING HIGHER MONEY.

[@randallvann7390]

lineflyer1 I'm a diesel tech because I grew up around tradesmen, got my foot in the door with a quarry company at 17, and had an interest in the job and desire to learn and be known for having earned a skill. And I make great money. Have great benefits, and have a skill set that will always be in demand.

[@randallvann7390]

lineflyer1 haha! Man, you're very bitter. I left the quarry long ago. None of these details matter. The subject was skilled workers, ambition, options. I'm not sure why you're so concerned with my personal timeline. I can tell from your attitude you would be a joy to work with or employ! Have a good day!

[@nutnfancy]

Being a diesel tech is honorable. Great job serving society.

[@randallvann7390]

nutnfancy you're the man, haha! And thank you. I'm not bragging, actually trying to pull people up!

[@briangarrow448]

I learned a construction trade, boilermaker, through a union apprenticeship program. In my first 2 years, I was making more per hour than my father,who had a very good job in a paper mill. He was so proud of me he took my paycheck stub to work and showed it off to all of his coworkers. I have to admit that I was very honored by his action. After 10 years in construction, I got tired of traveling to jobs and got a position in the wastewater field. I worked and studied hard to get get certified and licensed by 2 different states. After 25 years in wastewater, I retired at age 58, with a full pension. In my former field the average age is 48 years old!! There are going to be a lot of open positions as guys in my former field retire,like me. Good jobs, good benefits, lots of choices for where you work, and plenty of room for advancement. Kids who go 100 into debt for college are getting ripped off.

[@matts3729]

Brian Garrow What, specifically, related to wastewater did you do?

[@psalms23dad13]

as a tradesman I can tell you there is a reason these jobs are not appealing. for one the money, the salaries mentioned in this video are more of the exception than the rule. possible? sure, but very unlikely. secondly the work condions suck. the proof is in the pudding. if these were good jobs with good opportunity there would not be a shortage. keep in mind this vid is more from an "outside looking in " perspective than actual experience.

[@michaelbarber8654]

I'm an Industrial Electrician. At 52 years old, I am the youngest Electrician at our facility. There is no one to fill our shoes! I made $77,000 last year, and I RARELY work over 40 hours a week! The overtime is there if I want it, but I CHOOSE not to. I am sometimes called at home concerning breakdowns. That's a wonderful feeling to know my skills are that valuable. Having a trade has served my family and I very well! Other than my service in the Military, I can't see myself doing anything else. We need to get these young people back on track, and emphasize that Tradesmen are to be looked up to and respected. By the way, the figure I threw out there is a LOT of money for rural Indiana. Keep standing up for this country Nunt'n, and keep putting the word out there.

[@mrsquishyboots]

my generation is working. however nobody is accepting apprenticeships. I've been screwed by two electricians and a mason. right when me and the other applicants were ready for advancement, the company would run off or change names. these jobs are obsessed over. you have to know someone. plus after the economic downturn every employer decided to pay every one just above minimum wage. Jobs that paid 40$ an hour in the 80s pay 14$ now.

[@BlackSheepVM214]

Thay is true. I'm an a electrician my self and it's hard to get young people to work with their hands any more. I've had young people that had no training want to start wireing up things and they didn't have a clue how to do it. Then they would get mad when I would not let them do it. Then didn't have any ideal how much danger they were in what they were doing. it's sad. I've fired too many for not wanting to follow my orders. Ricky BTW I all most was kiled by 3 phase 480 volts & 20 amps went in my left hand and out the left side of my neck & I fell over 6' to fl;oor . I wass wireing U of VA hospital & broke 2 bones in my back.

[@yengthao1322]

Problem is, 1. Companies want workers with years of previous experience but are REFUSING to train people who are WILLING TO WORK. - How do you get experience if no one wants to give you a chance? This is why trades are so saturated with old guys. You want the new guy to have years of experience and you can't see what's wrong with that mentality. Guys in their early 20s aren't going to have a lot of experience unless they started right after high school or they've been doing it their whole lives. - That's why there are so many old guys and not enough young guys. Wherever I worked, I was always the youngest guy there. What happens when all the old guys retire then? Who's going to replace them? 2. Unrealistic hours and too much OT. Crappy pay. - Look, I'm not breaking my back for 10 hours a day plus OT for pennies while the supervisor sits in his office making $10 more than I am for just pushing pencils all day. - Why would I bust my ass and risk health issues working for pennies when I know I can get a job that pays the same for just sitting on a computer punching keys? Want me to make money for your company while you pay me pennies? I don't think so. - I have no problem with working hard. I do, however, have a problem with not getting enough pay for my efforts. - Life is short. Why would I spend all my time doing something I don't exactly like just for some money that I'll probably have to use to fix the health I sacrificed for the job I took to get the money in the first place? I have better things to do with my life.

[@Ominiumshadow24]

The question is. How do the old guys when our age at the time, get expirence? Somebody showed them. They are all old entitled fuckers

[@leeroy60]

It's serendipitous that I watched this video. I just recently quit my dead end job to go to school full time and work part time to have a real career instead of just a job. Big thumbs up for this video Nutin! I hope young people see this and get motivated to do something good for themselves and this country.

[@toadamine]

good pay? no it isn't, plus it's long hours doing shitty work... literally.

[@gkinser1964]

Thanks Nutn! I'm 52 yrs old with 31 yrs in the HVAC industry in North Florida. For the past 15 yrs I have run my own company. Yes I do have to work my ass off, however I am my own boss and I wouldn't have it any other way! Being honest with your customer is the only way to be! In my opinion the most important certification a young person can obtain is a VALID DRIVERS LICENSE! I am also looking for veterans to employ! Please keep it up and help us spread the word.

[@Democracy-is-non-negotiable]

( ͡͡ ° ͜ ʖ ͡ °)Better yet, Do you feel the nullification of trade worker programs in schools has led to the decrease in tradeworkers?

[@locomike102]

Trade programs are coming back pretty strong--the problem is the "mom factor". Too many parents see trade programs as something a student fails into. They see it as a path for someone else's kids, but certainly not theirs. Until that perception changes, we will always have a problem finding the best people to go into the trades.

[@tuck234]

Literally, that was my first choice. Going to a technical school that focused on computer maintenance. I always loved working on and assembling hardware and trouble shooting PCs. I got pushed to do Electrical Engineering and honestly, I have a very shit, to be blunt, math background. I studied countless nights and had tutor after tutor help me with my abilities in STEM classes. Debt up to my eye balls and I am competing against people who have work experience in industry when they were in high school?! Career Fair in my university was hell. Turned down by everyone since my math wasn't high for them, yet they did complimented my work ethic and commented on how "human" I was, which I am assuming means I wasn't trying to fake myself to them. I am willing to work the most dirtiest job, most strenuous job, and/or dangerous if it meant I could do something that I loved doing... But I realized after 2 years of university and finally being a junior that I was not going to go anywhere with EE. I always liked hands on stuff and being part of the background to set up and fix and adjust things.

[@tuck234]

Lucca Smith I was actually looking up stuff on whether or not to go that route. No one really told me that was a way to do it. Thanks for the insight!

[@9999plato]

The Army Corps of Engineers was always scouting around colleges to scoop up young engineers before they get used to the pay of outside outfits. When construction was hot people frowned on Govt work. On the good side you don't have to travel outside of your tri state Corps office area. All I know is that when I worked for the Corps they used to get Engineering students to come in during the summers to work in internships and when they graduated they had a job. Worth looking into. They hired Electrical Engineers.

[@jeremysturza10]

Sorry guy but skill trades don't pay in the long term. I started out in the trades and earned a lot of money in the beginning but was left with no career path forward I was at the top of the pay with in 6 years working 60 hours a week. The only way to make anymore pay was to open my own shop or work more hours. I was able to get myself into a technical office / finance job that I do not need a degree that I am make more money better benefits and have options for career growth all at 40 hours a week and easier on my body. I will agree my current job is a bit boring and don't have that feel of accomplishment that I did with my trade. But I try to make the most amount of money I can in the shortest amount of time so I can enjoy life. I am happy I started in the trades it was good for me but I would be stuck if I stayed. Also as you heard in Fancys talk he was a officer in the military the guy that is fixing his plane is the back bone of the military but that guy is paid far less then he was you have to get to a warrant officer to make the pay of a Second Lieutenant. The trades need to pay better and people will work and stay in them.

[@socksandtea]

The new bay bridge is a bad example of american tradesman at their best. Very few american tradesman really worked on it. It was widely criticized during construction for being mostly outsourced to China, running way over budget, multiple delays, the use of incorrect bolts and high-strength tower anchor rods, which were not rated for use in a salt water environment!, and continues to suffer from many other engineering faults. The California Department of Transportation's decision to save money by hiring a Chinese company that had never built a bridge to build major parts of the new bridge is symbolic of the problems that really face our country. American tradesman would never have made these mistakes but they never stood a chance.

[@migueld5227]

Great videos but gotta comment on this one. I've been in the HVAC field for over 18 years, service, install, residential, commercial, industrial. Started as a grunt worked my way up to lead supervisor of commercial/industrial installs. Busted my balls for 18 years. Never once came close to making 60k a year. The amount of work is not worth the pay. Started my own business a couple years ago because I was tired of killing myself for nothing. Can't find any work out here. Too many companies out here underbidding. I personally know Union plumbers going on three years of being laid off. In all fairness I do live in Illinois so maybe that has something to do with it. Idk.

[@seantnper881]

Honestly nutnfancy I'm 25 and I've worked some pretty shitty jobs... Picking in warehouses... Unloading trucks for numerous company's and calibration for a few diffrent company's... And they were a shit ton of work... Hard physical labor... And they all paid way less than I make now as a manager at a Veterinary Hospital... With the way the US is going you can make more flipping burgers than you can being an apprentice... I was a calibration tech for 3 and a half years and I got laid off because my boss was sleeping with his secretary... Then I couldn't find a calibration job for 7 months... So I started doing temp work... Wich sucked serious ass.... Everywhere I looked wanted 10 years experience and a masters in engineering and I couldn't did a new job doing calibration.... So now I'm a manager and I'm trying to get to a point where I can make 75k a year being a manager....

[@seantnper881]

No I started in kennel and they loved that I came to work and busted my ass so they promoted me to be kennel manager over 8 employees... So I'll do this for as long as I have to and try and find a job being a manager over say 30 people... And go on from there.... I work side by side vet techs everyday and they do great work! We help so many people and pets! And honestly I've learned that at the end of the day if you hate your job the money will start to not matter... So find something you enjoy doing! They money will come if you work hard and are persistent!

[@Loki-ej6gf]

$75k as a kennel manager? Ha ha ha! Please... I'm a Vet Tech and really doubt your claims. Good luck.

[@seantnper881]

If you would pay attention you would see that I said I hope to make 75k a year when I move up to managing more people...

[@abnegative1876]

Make more flipping burgers than an apprentice? I doubt that (then again it may depend on the area). First day as an carpenter's apprentice I began making $15 an hour. Now I'm making much more than that and I'm still an apprentice. Certainly far more than those making burgers.

[@abnegative1876]

***** Do you realize I was referring to $15 an hour not being anywhere near $8 an hour of hamburger flipping? Of course I know the value of a dollar is nowhere near the same as the older days.

[@natk4337]

Thanks Nutn for doing this video. Being 23 years old and working in a HDPE pipe manufacturing plant while living in a college town in southern Utah has brought its own set of problems. I often get crap for not getting a degree in medicine or teaching, or any number of other fields. But the fact is, I have an excellent job that pays very well, own a house, have no car payment, and get extremely good benefits from my company. How many other 23 year olds are in as good of a financial situation as that? Most are 30 to 50 thousand dollars in debt, renting a crummy apartment and never have time to do the things they love. Not me. I tried the college thing for a few years, but could never decide which degree to pick from the list. I was miserable. Thanks for making the point that there are so many worth while things out there that don't require a degree. Appreciate your videos Nutn.

[@MTR702]

Nutn, tell last suspect to go into mechanical engineering. It blends art and math in a way that pays pretty well for a four year degree. It's the option I took and I've been happy!

[@xhale4148]

i am a certified welder with over 20 years in the field and specialize in tig welding, and live in upstate ny. im the first guy at the shop in the morning and the last to leave everyday of the week, i poor my heart and soul into what i do ! im 35 with 2 kids and a wife and i see these new guys that come in and put forth very little effort and expect maximum return and complain about how little they get paid so they are only doing what they think is fare, i dont get paid very much ( less than 40k) but i do the job of 2 or 3 guys and i try and teach these kids how to do the job also, not set them up for failure like alot of co-workers do! but from what i hear and see , the ambition is not there with the 18-20 somethings now a days ! there is no concept of pride with their work either! sad...and most companies up here dont back their employees as they should either! i would love to find another company that cared for their employees!.... but companies need to train these new guys before throwing them to the wolves and that might boost morale a bit for the new guys

[@sambrandt3688]

Something else that came to mind while i was watching this video. Those people out in America who think just because we get a new president and VP will change America back to the good America or will restore America ARE the ones who ARE still Asleep. They have no clue as to what the real source of America's troubles are. AMERICA WENT TO SLEEP DECADES AGO AND FOR THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS NEVER WOKE UP. I was not shouting in my last comment i used CAPs for emphasis.

[@TroySchmehl]

My dad is a foreman for a building company and ever since I was a little boy, and even to this day, he always said go to college because I never had the chance, don't learn a trade, don't do construction and so on. So I did what he said. I wanted to go to college for film straight out of high school, but it didn't take me long to realize that was a bad idea. Then I wanted to go into computer coding and I couldn't do it; I couldn't sit there for hours just looking at code. Then I got a job working as a painter and this is when I started to feel useful. My boss was a great painter and a good handyman, there was nothing he couldn't fix and he always had a trick up his sleeve. Because of this I watched him like a dog and took in all the information he could give me. I worked for him for about two years and became his best painter. Painting is what made me want to work hands on and the feeling of making a difference for someone else always felt good. I soon went back to school to become a mechanic and as I speak I have one semester to go before I graduate. I can tell to this day that my dad is still a little upset with the choices I've made, he never liked the idea of me being a painter and being a mechanic is a little better in his eyes but not ideal. Yet at this point, I'm set and I'm proud of the decisions I made. I want to get my foot in the door and work my way to the top like you said Nutn, I want to be the expert in my field and hopefully, own a shop one day. As I write this I am 23 years old and my punctuation is terrible, reasons I'll never be an English teacher.

[@beardedseabee82outdoors]

All awesome points, yes its hard work, ive been a jack of a number of trades a good number of years, and yes you hae to work for it, people are at times unwilling to work, they dont like not being able to heck their phones and social media until break times or after work. Sometimes they dont want to grow up.

[@nutnfancy]

Thanks for the xlnt comment, agreed. -nutnfancy

[@julieruhlen4141]

Hey Nutn, Check out OperatorSurvivalTool.com My husband loves your videos and wants to send you one of his products to check out.

[@zanelondagin4514]

As a millenial tradesman i can attest that i am often alone without peers my age within my field of work. I often find that the other fellows my age and maybe a little younger that come to join the ranks lack in common sense and practical knowledge. I have found guys that know an amazing amount of technical information but when presented with an open ended task simply cannot execute. Like they are stuck in a permanent apprenticeship. I truly believe this is due to the fact that they did not grow up with a wrench in their hand. They turned 20 and then went to a trade school. It takes a long time to grow into a tradesmen. It will not happen overnight. The starting wage in any trade as an apprentice isnt great and that repels people. They fail to understand that in 5 years their wage will increase exponentially in direct proportion to their knowledge base and efficiency. Idk i really feel bad for young guys that need good work and are lost to it. Stick in there and SELF EDUCATE! always improve your skillset.

[@cindytepper8878]

I just made a post similar to this. They didn't grow up with a wrench in their hand. You don't become an pro athlete by starting at 20 or 30. Same goes with the skilled trades

[@MyLonewolf25]

The problem is NO ONE is taking anyone without tons of experience Also THE PARENTS don't want their kids to do these kinds of jobs any more I'm lucky I eventually am going to college to get my enginerd degree But I want to get into what I want to do But it's a lot of things that not just one need to be solved I'm trying to get into automotive/welding No one is getting apprenticeships without tons of prior job experience Also many pay little over minimum wage and you CANT live on that Minimum wage and inflation have not been going up together at all for the past few decades Inflation has skyrocketed yet minimum wage has not I love cars I love welding I love getting down and dirty I plan on getting my diving certification and maybe nuke if I cam because those are the only ones people really care about with certs otherwise it's all company tests Underwater welder make 6 figures EASY skilled welders can make 6 figures easy in years Etc..

[@MyLonewolf25]

Also I recommend welding if you want to get your artist kid to be interested in it EXPOSE HIM to these things I disliked them to a point before I was Then I learned how EASY they are for effort put in to MONEY OUT I loved welding after my first pass and layer the absolute shittiest stack of dimes I've ever done ( still better than most of the people there almost passable after my tenth that was from my teacher)

[@Ratkill9000]

6 figures a year is highly specialized welding...ie underwater, pipefitters, etc. Majority of it is all production shop work. I've looked for welding jobs since I graduated welding school back in 2012 and its been an uphill battle the whole time. They all want 3 years MINIMUM or you have to get into a union which is damn near impossible.

[@MyLonewolf25]

Ratkill9000 mhmm.

[@stevenlinford4312]

Nailed it! In my trade as a truck driver, a lot of people get discouraged because of being away from home and in most cases, not getting compensated for it. But it's about constantly improving , and always moving forward with skill level and willingness to work. 7 years ago, I started off making under 30k, but after busting my ass and working my way to being qualified, I'm home every day making between 75-90k delivering fuel. the last 3 years. We currently have a high turn around because people get the job, but are unwilling to put the work in due to feeling entitled to big checks without putting in hours. Shoe you're willingness to work, and you will have more options and freedom and happiness out of life.

[@Kanglar]

What's the difference between a plumber and a pipe fitter? A pipe fitter can bite his nails :P

[@coach_cardwell]

I'm a high school physical education and weight training teacher in Washington state, and there's a huge shortage of teachers right now (even PE teachers!). I think it's the greatest job in the world, but took a lot of hard work to become licensed (BS and MS degrees, numerous tests, hundreds of hours of student teaching, etc.). Since there is such a shortage, our class sizes are huge. Thus many students don't get the individual attention and quality education they need to be successful . Something needs to change. As always, great video! Keep em coming!

[@bigassdude316]

1st off it takes time to learn a skill at the trade school. 1-2 years usually, maybe more. Not everyone has free time to go to school, unless you are just out of high school and your parents don't insist on you leaving their house. 2nd this is a total lie saying that skilled workers make 100K plus a year if they have an experience. Even the guy in your own video at the end saying that he working as a HVAC mechanic for 6 years. And still making only 22-23 bucks an hour. Still not bad, however too far away from a 100K+ a year job. Simple math (2500 hours X 23 = $57500 gross a year) At the normal 2000 hours per year thats only $46K. Yes there are some people making 100K+ or even 150K+ a year in a skilled labor, however its very small minority of workers. It would be more honest to say that skilled work is a 50K+ a year opportunity. If you personally know people that are making 100K+ it doesnt mean that its the average. Friend of mine went to trade school to become a welder. It took him nearly 2 years of studying before he started to work full time as a welder btw. He is on his 5th year as a welder. And guess what he makes an hour as of now? 18.35 an hour. Yes there are hours involved. In 2015 for example he worked more than 3000 hours. However he still rents and apartments, has a crappy 2001 toyota corolla and smells with a strange metallic smell all the time. Doesn't matter what cologne he uses. Also who knows what kind of shit he has in his lungs by now, at the age of 26. I say that because he coughs pretty often, not being a smoker. There are shortage of skilled workers, including trucks drivers BTW who are skilled workers too, because there are not enough money paid for the average Joe skilled worker. Not because all young people are lazy and want to play video games. Sorry for my bad English.

[@SRT480]

I would agree, 45 to 50k is my experience with well experienced blue collar workers. Im sure you have your super stars but i have known few. I have two friends who worked trades who drive Ferarris they arent the average.

[@robertcrump8022]

BigAssDude

[@MTR702]

As an engineer with plenty of formal schooling / college, the technicians that worked for me were pulling in TONS of money on side jobs. They only made an "official" rate of maybe $15 to $20 an hour, but a side job on Saturday pays about $100/hr. They would do stucco work, painting, plumbing, electrical, HVAC repair / installation. They did everything and were pulling in an extra few hundred a week (about $500)

[@MrCard031584]

with a managed economy we will never be paid what we are worth as skilled tradesman. even if u own the business u still get the shaft because someone will always outbid you with cheaper labor. until each trade unites to drive wages and job costs to customers up being a tradesman is not worth the daily physical pain when you can go make more as a truck driver or just a bit less flipping burgers with no physical pain and a whole lot less stress. fuck being a tradesman i hope we have a huge problem with no tradesman so wages are forced to rise. all tradesman at all levels NEED better wages and benefits for their hard work and suffering.

[@nutnfancy]

Hey dumbass, wages are already high. Do you have you head up you ass?! Let me guess: you are the excuse type, probably fired from your last job. So you sit around writing your bad grammar and blaming the system. Fact is the economy paid YOU what you were worth and you're ass sore about it. Mike dropped, you're owned. -nutnfancy actual

[@king0dasouf]

nutnfancy the 50% shortage in machinists in the Houston area gave me a leg up to getting in the industry. As an established machinist the next oil boom has me sitting pretty for some extremely healthy paychecks!!! There is nothing you touch that a machinist didn't have something to do with. Every single toothbrush, newspaper, car, lightbulb, everything you touch just about. Only things that don't are the natural growing or the hand made items. Other than that a machinist is the basis for everything.

[@pplebite8844]

Tradesmen are paid very well. The real issue is, we're being taxed under the table in every way possible. And it's not just this tax or another, it's the numerous amount of taxes that continue to be forced onto the workforce, not to mention Obamacare, for example, is the absolutely worse kind of tax possible. The workforce in general is dealing with stress, because it's difficult to save what they earn. If taxpayers stop voting for politicians that keep bringing up taxes as a way to solve the problems they've created, we'd actually have some kind of savings going on financially. But the fact is, with the ridiculous number of taxes, most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Taxes and self-inflicted inflation is what's hurting this country. We need good tradesmen in this country. But when you have a government that plays God, thinking they know better than the average American, what's needed in society, like making unfavorable trade deals and applying taxes and regulations that ultimately force companies to make decisions such as outsourcing jobs to other countries, you see the results of today. An economy that's stagnant and discouraging to the people.

[@geeeee8268]

The problem is over half of voters are not taxpayers. For the system to change, first thing that needs to be updated is voting law. Only confirm taxpayers should have a say. Otherwise leaches will keep voting for liberals and our national dept will soar.

[@johnnewman8322]

I really appreciate this video. I’m a master electrician and I own my own business here in San Antonio Texas. I literally started off just like you said . I was working dead end job in a restaurant line cook, didn’t even own a tool. I took a chance and walked out of my job and joined the Local 520 in Austin. One of the best decisions I’ve made. I went through the apprenticeship program graduated did some work as a service electrician , took the master test and here I am. I will always say good things about the union and refer guys there. I prefer to work for myself though. Thanks for the videos.

[@MrSlicer2424]

Sounds like hard work. I'd rather smoke weed and live off the government.

[@therealnokia]

I can't speak to other parts of the country, but here in AZ its damn hard to get into a formal apprenticeship. I called the union halls for several trades and got the runaround from all of them. They haven't updated their websites in years, and have disconnected numbers listed. Immigrants work for $7-8/hr and do questionable work, but increase the bottom line. What business owner in today's society is going to move away from that?

[@teslabamf]

Great Nutn so I assume you encouraged your children to go into a trade. I think not, you are so obviously hypocritical here what does tactical doodle do for a job again.....

[@TruckerJDub]

You didnt watch the whole video did you?

[@Kanglar]

I think Doodle is an EMT.

[@domenik8339]

teslabamf His son does not work in a trade field. Nutnfancy did not work in a trade field. The art of not practicing what you preach is a dubious one.

[@p51mustang24]

Nut'n didn't say trades are the only option. He just suggests that it's a better choice than going to college for gender studies with a minor in art history.

[@nutnfancy]

I laid it all out on the table when I was young and pursued the military. Did the same with my boys and they choose their own path (did you even watch this video?!) While in the military I fought every war that came my way and learned to be a pilot. Just because I chose this high value career doesn't mean other options are bad and it doesn't mean I cannot advocate them too. So if a doctor says welding is great, he's a hypocrite too? Wanna' go my route, come on down. Nothing is stopping you. It takes about $90,000 of personal debt and/or 20 years of military service to reach my experience/value level. Nothing is easy that counts for something, not trades, not the professional route either. With your line of "reasoning" you can't advocate a profession without doing it? You should think more before you type...I can see you edited your post as well. School dismissed. -nutnfancy actual

[@ronshulman9840]

I have one customer Daniel, a retired Air Force Senior Chief Master Sargent, who was traveling with his family in maybe the 60 or 70s when his cars AC went out. He was so impressed with the work the tech did. He went to school and became an HVAC tech and at 76ish he is still working to keep moving to keep busy.

[@nathenwallis5664]

Thank you for making this video. I'm 26, and working on becoming a welder. My grandfather, who I respect and love a lot is constantly telling me I need to get a degree, that I'll "never make good money unless I'm being paid to use my brain not muscle". While I know he only wants the best for me, it still sucks to have him putting me down for not "going with the norm", going to college for 4 years, than sitting in an office all day, paying off student loans just isn't for me.

[@focerzx3]

Great topic. Thank you. As a fleet account manager for a Ford dealer, I work with very cool trades daily. Plumbers to Cell tower builders. All are looking for workers. The pay great and they take good care of their people because they know their value. The more jobs these professions find the more fleet vehicles we will be able supply and maintain. That in turn means I will be able buy property and have a house built by those same businesses.

[@TheBudgetMonkey83]

I've been an industrial Electrian for 15 years. Started right out of high school. I'm 33 years old and I'm the youngest Electrian where I work. I work for one of the largest steel mills in the country. It's hot, it's hard, but it very rewarding job. I've work for a couple different corporations in my career. When I started I made roughly 40,xxx a year. About ten years in I hit 6 figures. I work 72 hours a week because we are so short handed. I would love to have a hard working 18 to teach. With in 5 years 15 % of our work force is retiring. We need more people. Seriously. Please

[@josephleinhauser6130]

Awesome video. Totally true as well. I've been in the trades since I was 17 and I'm only 25 but I have been able to take advantage of so many opportunities and learn the value of true hard work. The skills you learn as a tradesman in any career are so valuable and will serve you well throughout your life.

[@Brandonx-nb7rv]

I used to work in a factory in the hot and cold. 60 hours a week for 13.50 an hour. I left to work as a detention officer for $16 an hour. No more working hard for me. Sure I have much more responsibility and liability for people's lives, and the possibility of being sued or even killed, but generally it is a much easier job. Work smarter not harder.

[@cjhuey]

Spot on Nutn. I definitely see it here in south Texas. The local college has opened up night classes that start at 2:00 am for welders just to make sure that people that work shift work have a opportunity to take classes on their off time.

[@Wisham1]

You are absolutely on the money! I have been an industrial mechanic for 30 years and now in a foreman position. We cannot find people to fill positions we have had open for a year! The younger generation is not interested in hard work at all! I sent my son out to work the ttrades when he was in high school during the summer. I told him he needed to decide what he wanted to be, because when he is 18 its time to start doing! He liked HVAC so we sent him to trade school for an Associated degree. He said its the best thing he ever did!! Parents need to motivate their children to choose what the can succeed at in life.

[@codys9606]

I'm 19 and an aspiring drafter. I just finished my first year at a trade school here in Missouri and now I'm an intern at a civil engineering group drawing surveys, and when I graduate, I'll come right back because I've already been offered a role in the design department. While I'm not out there busting my ass on the job and I work in the office, I truly feel my chosen major and occupation is absolutely necessary and I love it. Great video, can't go wrong with Uncle Nutn.

[@Paquette011]

I'm 25. I've been working for my father in law's landscaping company. He's been teaching me the trade. the end of the season is coming. I have one season left until I go out on mine own and start my own company. it's hard work. at least 6p hours a week.but I'm proud of what I do and the money I make and can't wait to start my own Company. you gotta work for it!

[@darcyelliott9726]

Awesome vid Nutn, I'm a 22 year old HVAC tech and I love it. Something about finishing a really hard days work and feeling accomplished. Hope more young people will roll up their sleeves and knuckle down.

[@joshuahautala7121]

Thank you for making this video! people need to be aware there is a ton of jobs out there and most of them are good paying jobs! I am a construction land surveyor and our company NEEDS more surveyors but no one wants to put in the work. We have five - 1 person "crews" doing the work of 2 or 3 people each. I could work sun up to sun down every weekday but that is physically unrealistic.

[@cthulhutwocthulhutwo4044]

In Germany we have totally different building standards, but the issue is precisely the same: the youngr generations don't wanna do physical work. They aĺl believe things get built by playin' let's build games. Noone realizes we a need hands- on work force to move forward in our lives. Thannks for a fantastic Tribute towards educating our youth!

[@UGADawg]

I'm 58 and currently enrolled in a HVAC/R school. I am well educated (MBA) but after 3 years in the Bakken oilfields I find it much more satisfying the work with my hands and accomplish a task through the sweat of my brow. Call me crazy, but retail sucks! I can't wait to put these new skills to use next year. You nailed this one on the head. Great job!

[@TheYTViolation]

As an Industrial Arts teacher, let me say that students just don't want to work hard enough. Right now trade schools are offering discount enrollment fees, sometimes free with grants, and job placement. Instead of going into college debt, a student could go to trade school for 18 months to 2 years and go right into a job that pays 40,000 bucks a year or more, depending on which trade. Imagine that... 20 years old and making that kind of bank. Sad they won't do it.