Could Gen Z Revolutionize the Trades? (with Mike Rowe)

[@jackarnold7887]

We have a grandson that started off in University and watched his student debt rise and he understood where that was heading. After 1 year he dropped out and went to work in a Whirlpool washer/dryer plant via Kelly Services. After 6 months Whirlpool hired him direct and told him they would help pay for his college if he returned. For the past 2 years he has been enrolled in Engineering Technology at The Ohio State University with an emphasis on manufacturing and he is scheduled to graduate next year. Recently he was promoted to machine operator with an hourly rate of $26.00. He works 3rd shift, 4 10’s to give him time to attend school during the day. We are very proud of him.

[@thenourway]

OSU is great! And every apartment complex is hiring these machine techs (or a business that offers that services! Hint hint!) to fix all the broken things.

[@Jabb135]

Sounds like a hard working determined young adult congrats

[@Hallowsaw]

I quit college to become a meat department team leader at my local grocery store making 34/hr. Why did i pay 15k to go to college for 3 years?

[@drunkdonutboy]

​@Hallowsaw where you live california?

[@toddtheisen8386]

Corporations used to do similar things all the time. Apprenticeships, tuition reimbursement and higher education were financed because an educated workforce tends to be more productive. Unfortunately the pursuit of "maximum profit" wiped almost all of those aspects out.

[@toddtheisen8386]

I work at one the largest heavy manufacturers in the USA. All the executives and HR do is complain that we cannot get enough competent workers. They do not mention the stagnant wages for the last 15 years. The elimination of pensions and scaling back of 401(k) matching. The enormous bonuses to upper management but none for the production workers doing the actual work. It is not a "lazy" problem of the young people. It is a compensation problem.

[@debblouin]

Ahhhh!!! Let me ask you this: how productive are you? Have you negotiated for performance pay, or are you relying on hourly pay regardless of how productive you are? And “doing the actual work” is kinda funny. Do you think that the only people doing work are the plant line workers? AND, have you made any efforts to increase your value to the company and skills so you can advance in your current occupation or achieve advancement in your organization? How is your attitude and attendance? How much do you bring versus how much you take away? Maybe the company you work for is terrible. Maybe they SHOULD pay more. But maybe you should take your power back by taking responsibility for your choices and behavior and true value. BTW The company seems pretty transparent if you are knowledgeable about management bonuses.

[@tylercampbell6365]

​@@debblouinAll the things mentioned are going on across the country and everything mentioned is due to Republicans leadership..I work in a right to work state..They are Anti union and Anti paying more than what will bring you back the next day...The young people have figured out that working 30 years to make someone else rich is not where it's at..

[@jutde]

@@debblouinDo you think the company has raised their prices to compensate for inflation?

[@TheRealiRgrunt]

@debblouin I can tell you don’t deal with the trades, if you do it’s a large one. Business owners are so far detached from reality and have their heads so far up their ass, asking how to bring more value to the company to get a raise is a good way to get fired.

[@Clux88]

@@TheRealiRgrunt that’s what I was just gonna say they have no idea how a big business works the wages set by negotiations typically and it is an overall wage for everybody. They don’t care if one guy works hard or not you end up just being a number and these bigger companies and they have a set wage a lot of times by unions, but not other contractual agreements

[@ADR-j9m]

I am a 68 year old lawyer. If I could have known 50 years ago what I know now, I would have skipped college all together and immediately signed up with the IBEW apprentice program. My area of practice brings me in contact with teens and I have not been bashful in debunking the college theory and advocating for the trades. Mr. Rowe, I have had many clients watch your KZbin submissions. Thank you.

[@Rolando91flores]

I am 33 and feel like my generation was misled. In high school I was told that if I didn’t study and go to college that I would end up being a plumber or electrician and portrayed it as being a minimum wage job.

[@evanhailey76]

This right here. I've never asked for forgiveness but we need to remember that generations of students were LIED to in order to fund universities.

[@illhaveanother8173]

Plumber and electrician are well paid. Machinist and several other trades are not and have no job security. It's a mixed bag and "the trades" is too general just like "go to college". All trades including plumbing and electrical are pulling that nonsense of entry level positions asking for 3-5 years experience like corporate jobs are right now. Plenty of trade school grads saying the same thing as degree holders that they are not able to get hired. It's a real mess everywhere with tons of companies of all sorts plain lying about not having enough people to hire. For many of these places they need to pay better and train people them self instead of poaching talent from other companies and trying to pay apprentice wages to desperate workers.

[@EternallyGod]

Your parents also failed you, they should also know better. The richest people i know were high school dropouts who went back and got that ged and then took a college course AFTER the company the own prefered it.

[@talyahr3302]

I was told if I didn't get a degree I'd be at McDonald's or Walmart.

[@jackstoltz1379]

Right I'm glad I was smart enough even in elementary school to know college and climate change was a scam. Lol get loans and give us taxes for air

[@chuckd853]

I love Mike Rowe and Dave Ramsey. I'm a guy that has a two year technical degree and I make a six figure income in the mechanical engineering field. I was a mechanic for 18 years before I went back to school after a spinal injury in my mid 30s, now I design machines for a living and on no less than 35 patents. I had two doctors that wanted to put me on disability but that's not who I am, I need to have a purpose in life. I'm now 60 and will retire debt free thanks to the the Dave Ramsey program. 😁 Looking forward to building my hobby farm with all the animals that will bring me great joy.

[@getinthespace7715]

Awesome. Living the dream. I'm hoping to do much of the same and set myself up over the next 10 years.

[@koltoncrane3099]

At first years ago I thought wow. Ramsey is a god of finance or super smart. Now I realize he’s simply pragmatic and leaves a lot out. He gets people out of debt but never makes them super rich. I’ve listened to him on and off over the years. Dave hates gold. It’s like a lot of finance people and economists that are more free market and actually worry about currency systems changing they like talk about people owning 5-25% of their assets in sound money like gold or silver and maybe a portion of it going to cryptos like bitcoin.

[@koltoncrane3099]

Ramsey never tells you the central bank is privately owned paying a 6%dividend. He never highlights that inflation a good portion of it is simply debt or currency supply expanding.

[@koltoncrane3099]

People hate Robert kiyosaki. It’s like ya I dislike him on somethings for being misleading but kiyosaki is awesome at highlighting the U.S. declaring bankruptcy In 1971 and they switched to fiat. But he pushes the idea that new debt means new dollars and expanding currency supply. Mark ross and George gammon and others do more deep dives and they’re worth watching if want to actually learn more of the monetary system.

[@hopedodson8058]

Absolutely LOVE Mike’s ending about welders who can discuss Descartes and philosophers who can run a good bead. So, so true!

[@chrishardin4725]

Lots of time to think under that hood. It doesn't take long for the work to become boring muscle memory. I wrote a 2 minute song in my head doing water tight 7018 overhead with a mirror in a confined space. Do it enough and anything becomes everyday.

[@zacharyfair6738]

In Texas.... the oil & gas companies agreed to pay the local trade school $0.30 (making up amount) for every hour a new grad worked in the field for x amount of years. They also provided old pipes/supplies for students to use/practice with. This is what likely needs to happen with local real estate/construction companies...

[@chrismcmaster945]

Sounds like what the unions do

[@pabapaba6869]

That's how capitalism should work, without government interference.

[@Here4TheHeckOfIt]

The quality of some of these new homes though 😳 It is so shockingly bad I doubt they'll last a year. Seems like too many companies are taking short cuts at the expense of quality. That will teach a new generation nothing.

[@Here4TheHeckOfIt]

@@pabapaba6869 All countries have a government. We would be bands of warring tribes, unable to survive like we have. The U.S. is not even 250 years old. How do you know that's how things work?

[@koltoncrane3099]

Here4theheckofit Dude the above comment of mentioned without government “interference”. He did not say end the gov. Even anarcho capitalists that believe we should live In tribes and that taxation is theft even they realize if they’re being real or pragmatic that the best they can hope for is small government.

[@cindypatrick785]

Both of my grandsons have taken training in votech in high school. My oldest is working as a welder and doing well and my youngest grandson is taking heavy equipment training in votech, he is going to nationals to compete in Georgia in June. He won gold here locally .He already has a job waiting for him as soon as he finishes high school.👏👏👏 6:37

[@williamdobbins3131]

Navy vet. Almost 30 years in manufacturing maintenance. I'm now at a new company, DrinkPak, and my maintenance team has a lot of young guys. These guys are amazing. We need another few mechanics that are so good.

[@mikethemechanic7395]

49 year old Gen X here. Diesel mechanic of 23 years. I am a college dropout out. Was pressured to go to college. Went to trade school instead. When I first started in 2001. Guys were stopping by looking for a job weekly. That dried up in 2008 and up. The shortage started way before teachers and nurses. The average age of mechanics is 42. The last 2 years we have seen mid 20s start back into the trades. It’s turning around. I have seen parents tell their kids college is the only option. It’s funny how many millennials have massive college debt. A lot don’t own a house. My neighbor graduated college with a major in music. He works at a dungeon and dragon shop. I purchased my first house at 26. My wife and I live in the burbs. We have twins who are 11. We have nice cars and go on x2 vacations a year. The potential for side work is huge. I make 110 hr tax free an hr when I want. I fix almost everything around my house. Most of my millennial neighbors pay for landscaping, mechanics, home repairs etc. The parents failed them. My current job. I was recruited. They paid me a 7k bonus, they pay for my kids college. That sold me. With the shortage we are treated 180 from 10 plus years ago. My employer knows I can get a job in 1 day. Any appointment I have etc. I can go to and make up my time. We are treated very well. Also the boomers are gone and GenX runs the show and millennials. Guys don’t yell or scream anymore. I love my job. Only downside. Most shops have gotten ride of Shop foreman. They call it a lead. Shops took advantage of the shortage and Shop managers run 1-3 shops. Not 1 like it should be. My shop managers last 1 year and toss the phone and keys. Also training for green guys has been zero. It’s frustrating we don’t have time to train new guys. It’s a disaster. I wanted to get promoted to shop foreman and Manager. You have to be high to do it now. The responsibility is x5 of what it used to be. It sucks at 49 still on the floor. At least I do my job and go home…..

[@davekohler5957]

Where can I make 110 and hour tax free? Sign me up.

[@plumbnplumber]

Skilled trades are needed by everyone. If the lights don't work, the surgeon can't perform. If the water doesn't make it to the sink, the food doesn't get washed. If the sewage doesn't make it to the treatment facilities, it winds up in the streets and rivers. We are just as (if not more) important than and college graduate.

[@Bruceman17]

You can have both of those but if the AC or heat isn't working, your home, the grocery store, hospitals literally can become self destructive as appliances start over heating and everyone is in a bad mood until its fixed or they leave lol

[@mwaynem]

My previous employer started bullying and firing any supervisor over the age of 50. I was one of them. I went into the trades at 55. Within 4 years, I was making as much as I was making as a supervisor in manufacturing, working only 40 hours a week. When I was a supervisor, I worked 50 to 60 hours per week. I work 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, with every weekend off. Previously, it was shift work, with most of it being nights and weekends. I have almost no stress where before every day was extremely stressful. I should have quit years before getting fired or, better yet, going into the trades to begin with.

[@DMP6969]

What trade did you go into???

[@TheLastPrime38]

Proud college dropout here. I technically finished my AA, but dropped finishing my BA back in 2020. I just became a Commercial HVAC apprentice for my Local UA, and I couldn't be prouder of myself. I'm gonna be the first blue collar worker in my whole families history. My parents have championed my decision, and I know it'll lead to a better life for my wife and I, and our future kids.

[@julianvanhoof2372]

Most companies don't reward or recognize their most skilled and hardest workers.

[@EarlHayward]

Actually, most do… But, those happy employees are not wasting their free time posting on social media about work grievances! The complaints are from those who are probably at work, not doing what they should be doing, complaining about the small bonus and lack of promotion…

[@godsdozer]

You can start your own company, right?

[@murdockhancock]

​@@EarlHaywardwhat's your current career

[@dabee8207]

100% the issue

[@dabee8207]

​@@murdockhancock obviously a guy who knows which office chair is best on the market 😂

[@lcmctaggart2185]

Fresh out of high school I joined the sheet metal union in Atlanta. 5 years of trade school, tuition free and worked the entire time. Ended up at $34/hr. 3 years after turning out, i started my own sheet metal company and now are on pace to do 1.2 million our second year in business. God is good. He blesses anyone willing to acknowledge and use the gifts he has given you.

[@kyleboisvert4501]

Im 35. Went to college to be a theater sound technician and actor. But since then i have been a carpenter, taught driving, coached gymnastics (my sport growing up) and im proud to say i just got hired to be a plumbers apprentice TODAY! Its never to late and the opprotunities are ready and waiting. PS. Dirty jobs was one of my favorite shows when I was growing up. Thank you Mike and Dave for what you share with the world.

[@thomaskraus5125]

You used the wrong ("2") "to" should be "too." "It's never too late and the opportunities are ready and waiting." Hope I helped you."

[@clintonmaurer5758]

WORK ….. it’s the dirtiest four letter word …. You can’t get away from it. Work has to happen for the world to move. Love both of you guys. Dave you have changed my life with your teachings and we are 21 payments away from paying off our business. I’m married and we are on baby step 7 with our personal finances. Mike I remember watching you when I was in my early 20’s , I was in Army at the time and I’m behind everything you are teaching. Owning a restoration and body shop LABOR and WORK is the only thing that gets us to the end of the day. Hats off to both of you great men ❤

[@billyboy8772]

The improv between Dave and Mike at the beginning is what happens when you have two Alpha Titans on the stage. Two strong men who created their world and do not allow it to simply happen to them. Thank you both.

[@dawn7220]

I work with teenagers and I encourage them to consider working in the trades. I am sending Mike Rowe's website to parents and my co-workers.

[@Larrykritzer302]

Yes I work 20 years for a man who owned the company right along side putting in sub drain by hand shovels. Big respect!! Retired now.

[@wildtwindad]

My parents (70+), while they left middle school, had aptitude testing. Following this they were streamed into 2 choices, college/uni prep or trade school. The scholastic system then had 2 completely different schools that ran in tandem. This resulted in the greatest dearth of actual tradespeople ready to hit the market by the age of 18. We need this back. There are thousands of schools that are sitting derelict that can be immediately converted back to trade schools. It just needs a level of reinvestment on a local level with federal AND market partnerships. Unions NEED to be a vital part of this going forward.

[@joewalch89]

They still do it this way in many countries. I was an exchange student to japan and I attended a construction/civil engineering high school. 3 hours of woodworking and bricklaying every day. The students actually built the baseball stadiums dugouts with supervision from the teachers.

[@starspaceschool587]

Unions particularly public sector unions often negotiate against the interest of their members. I’ve seen unions effectively deny promotions and extra pay to their members and in exchange the union forcibly took extra money from their checks.

[@Clux88]

@@starspaceschool587 Yeah, I mean I hear you saying that, but that’s not how it’s working in the trades at all. They make sure we the members are benefiting and it has been that way for the 20 years. I have been a member.

[@starspaceschool587]

@@Clux88 I’m sure some unions are good. But the big unions I’ve dealt with are terrible for the workers and the employers.

[@nhopkins8266]

I’m 32 and I remember always hearing in the culture: “go to college, I don’t want you to have to work a blue collar job like I had to” So now we need tradesmen 🙄

[@nhopkins8266]

@@EVS-w1m that’s awesome. What trade and how much we talkin?

[@Jacked2theTs]

And to add to my previous comment, people also don't care about being "employee of the month." Most businesses seem to have automatic pay scales. With individual merit-based compensation, being a thing of the distant past... Now, people just want to be able to pay the rent on their modest apartment, without it sucking up 60% of their monthly post tax income. The fact that you can be making $18/hr in the US and it many places, it is still barely enough to cover rent on an average apartment, pay car insurance, pay the normal bills like water, electric and phone... Lets not even talk about the increase in food cost.

[@zachdewitt1455]

Right on! I'm a mechanic I'm wrenching right now listening to this. Run my own shop out of my barn for last 11 years. I'm 30 now. I have a hard time finding a good mechanic to help. Thank you guys for your wisdom!

[@kristapreston5760]

Love Mike’s analogy of eating the food on your plate. I have to tell myself almost every day to eat the frog first! Great feeling to start the day with the worst task done.

[@JSabh]

One of the best things businesses can do is institute an incentive program. For instance, a mechanic shop offers a bonus to top performers because if they do the work faster and better, the shop wins and the tech wins. In sales, offer incentives to foster the best salesperson and promote them. That's how you increase resilience in a work environment. Also, a training program organically arises and your employees are the best, most motivated folks around and speak well of their job when they leave.

[@mellowsunset7730]

I sincerely hope more people go into the trades, especially as we face a housing and skilled labor shortage. Having worked in higher ed, I can attest that a lot of wily senior administrators will speak lofty words publicly but deep down inside they're ice-cold business people who will sell this intangible product of higher education to clueless 18 year olds in exchange for cold, hard cash even when they know these young people aren't studying something valuable and are unlikely to benefit. They love their own family, house, second house and retirement fund and the fact that they may facilitate a bunch of young people to go into needless debt to propel their career forward is just collateral damage to which they give very little thought. Most colleges would admit a sack flour with a face drawn on it as long as someone would pay its tuition. As a parent and teenager, you have to treat colleges, which are ostensibly nonprofits, as simply businesses and you as the buyer need to beware.

[@bztx1229]

As a first gen mexAmerican, I will attest that my male cousins were told by my uncles (their fathers) that construction or any blue collar jobs were not for them. My uncles worked a hard blue collar life and sacrificed so much that their sons were not going to take the same path. Knowing what I know now, I wished the conversation could have been different. Such as they can climb the ladder in blue collar companies.

[@marylee2732]

That’s every parents wish, we were misled and it is costing us.

[@therearenocamerasintheboil733]

Any particular reason you're not just an American? I'm not trolling, it's just another way to divide people. I have eastern European heritage. I don't identify as a polish American. I'm an American. I have nothing against Mexicans. How can you be both. My point is my father belonged to local 701 and to iuoe local 150 he had to give up his 701 card. You can't have it both ways.

[@tylercampbell6365]

​@@therearenocamerasintheboil733You don't have to give up your heritage to be an American.. America is a melting pot of many nationalities..

[@buddyryeSE]

Mike Rowe is still as sharp as ever...

[@EternallyGod]

This boils down to good parents. Tell your kids to get into a trade from 18, by the time they are 22 they are a journeyman and making good money. Then they can do whatever they want....the world is at there finger tips.....they can work for someone else and have no worries.....they can start a business and see how they do.....they can do something else and end up back in that spot in the future cause other options always seem to fail.

[@toddtheisen8386]

Except, most companies do not want to do the "good money part" for trade workers. And 80% of new small businesses fail. That is why young people have refused to fall for the dignity of hard work myth.

[@EternallyGod]

@@toddtheisen8386 20% dont fail, that is a good number actually. Success rate is quite high. Nothing in life is guaranteed besides your death.

[@christibritton1436]

Re: How to reward outstanding production/results without burning out your crew. -- Recognize it as "outstanding" , unusual, 120% effort. Don't expect everyone on the crew to perform at that level from now on. Worked a factory job - could tell the good supervisors - C level work was 'keep' your job, B level work was 'promotion possible' at next opening, A level work, management training. Poor supervisors kept pushing people to 'do better' 'work faster' & wondered why their department had the highest rate of accidents. If an employee puts in extraordinary effort to help complete a rush job, recognize it as that, don't expect that level of effort to be the new norm. Reward the problem solvers - those employees that work well when there is work to be done, but sit back and watch when there is a lull in production. Don't push busywork such as sweeping a clean floor.. Let them think about how to rearrange stocks to be more available during production to improve efficiency. Let them suggest some quick tasks that will help maintenance. Let them hunt that odd noise that keeps happening during production.

[@bobscott6991]

This is what needs broadcast, someway, on an even larger stage (get it into high schools) that more and more people can see it.

[@bryanleverett2830]

I enjoy walking through nice clean warehouses full of guys in kakis looking down on me because I’m covered in filth from working on their machines. Meanwhile, I know I’m pulling in 30% more than them and go home everyday feeling great about doing something real.

[@EarlHayward]

Yep! Similarly, I like walking into critical facilities (hospitals, data centers) carrying my tools and being looked down at.. However, pretty sure I make more than most of those I have to deal with; and, probably more than all but the doctors or c-suite executives as I pull decent six figures (not to mention stock options, discount stock purchase opportunities, annual bonus, company truck, expense allowance, and other benefits)… But, while most of my time is actually behind a computer programming controls and writing reports, I still turn a wrench, use multimeters, and/or run a torch part of the time… Personally, I think I have the best of both worlds as I make as much or more than the average person with a graduate degree, but don’t have to sit behind a desk 8-10 hours a day, or more, like some of mine friends who are attorneys and engineers…

[@Jacked2theTs]

The problem was never "The Trades." The problem was and still is, that people don't want to do this kind of bodily wear & tear work, for 50-60 hours a week, with no end in sight....

[@ripvanwinkle3432]

At 45 I'm in better shape than most my age. As are most of my coworkers. The bad wear and tear thing is pretty much a thing of the past unless you are trying to prove how manly you are to other men 😂 I'm sure some lower tiered trades are hard on the body but don't do those unless you don't have the aptitude for higher skilled trades and your options are limited anyway.

[@jfarrell9915]

not sure what you refer to....your description sounds like many white collar jobs.... most trade jobs now have good pay and defibned hours.

[@jutde]

My only issue with trades is that getting started takes a lot of sacrifice. If you’re a middle-aged Millennial with an established family looking to reset from making the poor choice of listening to parents/guidance counselors that steered you into a worthless degree, you’re looking at lots of travel, lots of odd hours, or relocation just to get your foot in the door. Nevermind getting past the stigma of being the “old person” with minimal/no relevant experience who’s just looking for a chance to prove you have what it takes to succeed without the “required 15 years of experience” for an entry level position.

[@EarlHayward]

How is that different from any other career choice or change? I put myself through college (part time over nearly 10 years) doing electrical and mechanical service work, then spent 25 years in professional services (Accounting and IT), and now back to the trades working on controls and cooling equipment (due to my programming skills)… Both career changes required many hours of research in looking at, applying to, and interviewing for opportunities I felt were a fit… Both required accepting a decrease in compensation in the short term, but I was quickly promoted given my work ethic, positive attitude, and critical thinking skills! Let’s face it, some people lack the ability to work hard, think critically, or both… In which case, their opportunities are limited because they never did, nor will, contribute services of sufficient value…

[@TGriffiths-ve6nw]

Oh I sense a bit of entitlement clouding this judgement. Of course there are trials and tribulations involved in improving your situation. If not everyone would be doing it. And as far as " the stigma" about being the oldest apprentice on the crew ??? What?? You consider that to be a barrier to improving your situation? What?? Stay at McDonalds pal. It's the easiest thing for you to do. You can whine all day while packing up burgers.

[@tonyawiley9575]

"We are the clouds from which the snow flakes fell." Thank you, thank you, thank you! Finally someone takes ownership. ❤ Not a blame game. We just have to know where the problem starts in order to analyze and correct it.

[@collin9085]

The problem is that a lot of trades still don't pay too well. For instance, People already complain that the price of a house is about $300 a square foot to build new construction. But many of these trades are not making that great of money even at that price. Americans can't really afford to pay more than that as it is. Thus there is no room to increase wages for these trades. The same can be said about cars and mechanics. We are kind of at a stand off. Most trades have to spend a lot of their money on tools, vehicles, machines, warehouses, insurance, taxes, etc, etc.

[@EternallyGod]

What do you mean they dont pay well? Show numbers. Mechanics for instance do gotta buy tools...but tools dont lose value, it is an investment. I dont know one mechanic that isnt doing very well. The worst off mechanics work at dealerships and dont work hard at all or use there minds ever in that job....it is the basement of that industry and every other option pays so much more.

[@sherrijones9777]

I had 2 guys (1 plumber + 1 trainee) out to switch my PVC pipes to pex and they charged $1500 for 3 hours of work. They got paid $125/hr each while they were in transit to my house and while they went to pick up supplies and then came and sat in my driveway while they ate lunch since there was a tracker on the vehicle so they would get credit for being on the job during that time. I disputed the additional amount; they tried to charge for 5 1/2 hours of labor when they were only working 3. I’m glad Mike Rowe is rewarding people with integrity with scholarships.

[@collin9085]

@@sherrijones9777 average salary for a plumber is 60k in america. It's a living wage. But it's also a tough and dirty job. You could make the same amount doing a variety of jobs that are less straining.

[@collin9085]

@@EternallyGod Average pay for a mechanic in America is 47k per year. That is from the BLS. I'm sure there are some mechanics who make great money, just like some musicians make millions but most play in bars and street corners. The vast majority will make make around the average income in america. There are a lot of jobs you could do to gain more money with the effort and skill of a mechanic.

[@EternallyGod]

@@collin9085 Dont compare mechanics to musicians they arent a close comparison at all. That number must include all apprentices...but like i said before dealerships hire tons of low paid mechanics who are shit at there jobs. In the US if you are great at what you do, you can make big money....people will line up to pay you for what you are worth. If you are shit, you get shit pay.....

[@DesilateLamprophony]

Open your eyes and look around at every gas station you visit. You'll see that the Millennial generation is currently taking over skilled trade fields. Its a beautiful thing, really.

[@elund408]

WE didnt have a labor problem when the trades paid a living wage,

[@jacobmitchell9227]

Facts lotta the labor jobs paying less than fast food

[@luffyystrawhat5848]

And it shows in the quality off worker willing to stick around

[@elund408]

@@luffyystrawhat5848 It's hard to stick around when you can't pay rent and buy food

[@carlaroettger6428]

Trade schools all the way!!! First trade school degree photography in third rated school in the nation for photography. 1980 there were no jobs so I went on and got a bachelors degree in communications media graduated in 1983 very backwards most back then you didn’t go to a trade school and then about university, but it worked for me. I came out with very little bit because I was able to earn a living while at the university with the first trade that I got. Thirddegree Computer in my 50s. I may earning a pretty good living with this degree. So hats off to the trades to the trade schools they have given me a career multiple careers through my lifetime. And to the point of one of the questions, a guidance counselor in 1978 inform me that I wasn’t smart enough to make it through a trade school. The first two colleges trade school and university. I’ve owned a business for 40+ years earned a very good living and now I’m back in the workforce as a computer IT sports specialist. I will in my career in probably 2 years. My point I have earned a better living with both my trade schools than I ever did with the university degree.

[@m16ty]

My Dad told me when I was a kid "son, one of these days that ditchdigger is going to rule the world". I don't think we are far from seeing that reality if stuff doesn't change. What he was saying was, society will eventually crumble if you don't have the people to dig ditches and anything else that makes our life possible.

[@rickhao9665]

. AK 8-12-24 11a AK time.....EXCELLENT CONTENT 👍 👍 🇱🇷 ..I am a great fan of M. Rowe....The high school educational system NEEDS this focus.

[@williamhsteele]

I went to a local college in my area in Delaware, got a 4 year degree in business and paid for it by working as a machinist. I’m still in the trades as an overhead lineman now, maybe I’ll end up using my degree someday though when I can’t work the trade.

[@mylesfarias9]

If I could go back in time, I would've gone straight to school to become a software engineer. They have comfortable lifestyles and can easily earn 150k salary plus stock bonuses in their first year at top companies. Instead, I am self-employed as a GC working around the clock managing projects, working in the field, sometimes stressed trying to raise the bar. Most the people I do work for currently are in their lower 30's, dual incomes, owning $1mill homes as software engineers or a relative technical field.

[@maxlown363]

Im 54. I have multiple income streams. THey are all blue collar. My mon-fri daytime job is commercial tires : repair and replacing semi truck tires, farm tractor tires, loaders and backhoes. It is filty dirty, and very laborous. I work with a 22 year old guy. I never expected to see a gen Z choose this kind of work, but he did. He comes to work everyday with a good attitude, and a willingness to do the nasty jobs. My middle son is 27 and a journeyman electrician. My daughter is 23, she was a mechanic on subarines in the navy, has gotten out of the navy and is working at a vetrinary clinic, studying to be a vettrinary technician, and her eventual goal is to become a vetrinarian. I see a lot of young people pursuing the trades.

[@mattjeffsdpt]

Stopped listening 20-minutes in. Love Mike Rowe's mission, but both these gentlemen answered questions they weren't asked - while not answering the questions they were. The first two question were about workforce cohesion. The first business owner asked about 1) recruiting and 2) how to get his veterans and his newbies working well together. The second business owner asked a similar question about how to get her highly educated workforce working well with her less educated but highly ('life') experienced workforce. Again - working well together. Mike turned the first question into national numbers. Dave turned the second question into 'grit.' At that point - I'd had enough. Gentlemen - consider collecting questions in advance, then taking the time to answer directly what you were asked. Hope this is helpful.

[@LexusLane]

yep, they just ignored the questions, but didnt have any trouble collecting a hefty ticket fee to get in the door of the place.

[@MDAdams72668]

The thing that people FAIL to realize is MOST trades wear your body out by 50-55 As the "retirement age" is pushed higher that leaves nearly 20 years an ex tradesman needs to have money set aside to live on. Therefore the trades NEED to PAY nearly 2x what a desk job does to make them legitimate options. I succeeded only because I am an entrepreneur and by 50 had built a home rental business AND a Plumbing business I cannot do the physical labor BUT the license and the other business fund my lifestyle If you want a JOB that you can do (without all the extra involved in business ownership) for life the TRADES do NOT PAY enough. PERIOD full stop.

[@canyonrnrr7143]

I enjoy both of your wisdom. Thank you.

[@slw04]

It’s not always about taking the trade route “making just as much financially” as the person with the college degree(s), it’s about levels of skill sets that are so desperately needed. They should be talking about how the lesser/cheaper/shorter route can be hell on your body in the workforce because it has a shelf life. Health can take its toll over time especially in the trades industry. Disability claims are through the roof at such younger ages now. When that happens you will for sure need the ones who went to college several times over and will later become frustrated when you run into not having enough Specialists that can meet your particular health needs that the trade industry caused. Folks need to stop downing the high tuition paying student loan folks because we see the medical bill balances that cost more than our education and guess who struggles to pay those medical bills?? Because the body can no longer produce like it use to which changes your income and health insurance. You will either pay on the front end of life, the middle, or back end, take your pick.

[@plumbnplumber]

I know plenty of guys in their 60's still working in the field. Alcohol and drugs do more damage to the tradesman than the physical aspect of the job in many cases.

[@slw04]

@@plumbnplumber: Trade fields are still very hard on the body in more ways than one and that includes lifestyle stuff too. 60s is not old either but trades can age you and make you think that. Some end up not working up to their full retirement due to medical problems. They may still work but they give the back breaking jobs to the younger people to let them do it because their bodies can only handle so much.

[@robertwazniak9495]

When I started, I did the shit jobs for the senior tradesmen. As I put effort into my job, I was assigned different jobs and really learned my trade and the business. By the time I retired, I didn't have to do those shit jobs that broke your back... I made myself more valuable to my employer and progressed in my trade. If you never put in the effort to grow, yes, you will destroy yourself and retire crippled. If you aren't growing, you're dying...

[@TheLastPrime38]

This is the message that all trades people need to be preaching. Get in the trades, if you not only have work ethic, and want to work with your hands. But also if you have a brain, and a drive to understand how and why things work.

[@RUdigitized]

Trade schools are raising their tuition as well it will cost you 30k just to get a certificate for a diesel mechanic

[@EternallyGod]

30k isnt that much, if you apprentice it takes 4 years and you still spend a couple months in school. So that 30k bypasses the lesser incomes from apprenticing and brings you to the end. So that is like 10k a year...my opinion is even at 100k it would be worth it but over that is the break point. Investing in yourself is good when it brings you to a good end game.

[@darkmediatracks]

​@@EternallyGod His point is they will raise their prices if more people go to trade schools.

[@mikethemechanic7395]

You don’t need a degree to be a Diesel mechanic. It only earns you a management position.

[@EternallyGod]

@@mikethemechanic7395 That depends on who you work for. I dont know anyone who is hired without a degree or they are severely underpaid.

[@WilliamMartin-r3s]

Yeah i agree trade schools are expensive not worth it jobs get sent overseas we have a fascist economy.

[@Retired683]

The military is another great option. Our son got thrown out of high school. He spent 23 years in the military and came out with a retirement along with an education. He also started his own business with the experience he earned.

[@purerocklandscaping]

I could listen to Mike Rowe all day! Does he still do Dirty Jobs? Love that show

[@pabapaba6869]

Prior to government taking on the lending of student loans, you went to your local bank and they scrutinized the loan to payback ratios to determine if the degree you were achieving was favorable to you being able to compete in your field. If not, no loan. This all went away with government student lending.

[@cococali6589]

Millennials and gen z was never challenge to the point where when you succeed you “feel” value within yourself. You know, the real way to gain self esteem and worth. Adults need to Stop doing everything for kids. Let them learn

[@justanothercarnivore]

How does this square with Dave's intro to his flagship show "Do work that they love?" It is very rare to meet someone who actually loves his work. Every time I talk to someone in the trades, he's either complaining about some aspect of his job, or he'll say something like, "It's a good job. It pays the bills." Never have I heard (in real life) someone say, "I love my job," and it's a job in "the trades." It seems that the best thing most people can come up with (including all the media personalities who talk about how great the trades are) is that you get paid a lot of money. Paycheck, not purpose.

[@amireallythatgrumpy6508]

Those that love their job are too busy doing it to talk about it.

[@justanothercarnivore]

@@amireallythatgrumpy6508 Too busy to talk about it when they get a chance to, like at a social event that they get time to attend?

[@amireallythatgrumpy6508]

@@justanothercarnivore Too busy to attend social events.

[@justanothercarnivore]

@@amireallythatgrumpy6508 Thanksgiving? Christmas? Easter? Memorial Day? 4th of July?

[@DaniCalifornia44]

That was quite an ending! Kudos to Mike Rowe.

[@captiveamerica1776]

You know what happens in the business world nowadays when you're the rockstar? You are given the extra work of the C- employees who can't produce, because you're so good. So we have stopped being rockstars. I am fortunate to work at a job where my pay increases are more than my coworkers for that very reason - I do more than my coworkers.

[@andrew7202]

I love Mike Rowe and Dave

[@megadesertdiesel1468]

been in the Plumbing trade almost 30 years now and wow i have made some serious money off some hard work. Its very easy to make 100k a year and with some leadership training(on the job) one can make over 200k a year. I have planned to retire ever since i go into the trade at 19 years old and have saved for the day. At 50 years old ill be able to start drawing my pension and work at the same time due to the shortage of workers available. I figure double up for another 5-7 years and then retire before 60 and enjoy life on my terms.

[@deanwilliam459]

alot of companies say they are hiring but when you apply they never return your call. I got a few friends across the country who tell me the same thing.

[@azsheri8]

Grateful for this! Spirit and soul growth come from honest work ethics!

[@RELPOWER]

The problem is also that they want the two replacements to complete the same amount of work that the five did. I did trades for almost 10 years, working at least six days and a long 10 12-hour days, it got old after a while. The money was great, though...

[@jimd8019]

Here is a question for both of you, it's a elephant in the back of the room where you all play, how do you see the unions playing a part in the trades new generations and economy coming up?? I know not all unions are the same but has a basic idea that there is a loss of trust between the employees and the administrative/ owners.

[@darkmediatracks]

A lot of people have this thing that if everything just become normal again. Hoping for higher wages, cheaper prices, schools will cost less, etc. I'm here to tell you you're going to be disappointed and to understand how things work (ecom).

[@jahnemann]

I nearly daily am thankful for the fact that i never went to college and pursued the workplace. I now am 30, own 4 homes, including 1 i gave to my mother who is riddled with debt. Get after it. Degrees arent for everyone.

[@josephpistachio5675]

Great show I'm enjoying it!! And I seem to have this super power when I watching a show. My insightful power was telling me that the talk ended somewhat after 2 pm. Actually not really.... I don't have a superpower... I just happened to see Mike Roe lift up his phone when he was talking and and I saw it said 2:00 p.m. when there was a few minutes left in the program. 😁

[@RobertSmith-fc9ge]

I’m 64 and have worked in the trades most of my life in the 70’s 80’s and 90’s the blue collar workers wages were held down to the point that you could barely make a living compared to white collar workers Now days large companies are tied to DEI and still hard work and skill are replaced with diversity goals !

[@andrew7202]

This talk needs to be more promotion

[@fixittony]

9:42 I wouldn’t want to confuse liberal arts education and degrees from science technology engineering degrees. Our country is also shortly in need of Engineers. A lot of companies want to hire American trained engineers. I’m proud to say one of my sons is in engineering school to become an engineer. I also have another son who we are having deep conversations about entering the trades. I promise to buy him a work truck if he gets into the trades as that’s how much money I would’ve been spending in a four-year degree university.

[@drumyogi9281]

I worked in the trades and I couldn’t make more than 55k a year. I worked 76 hours in the summer. It cost me my physical health.

[@Galactis1]

That's the problem, none of us Millennials wanted to do trades because, we didn't want to work more than 40 hours. Problem is can't earn much money without overtime. Sorry I have a life, I want paid more than 50k for 40 hours.

[@Galactis1]

I studied business, has gotten me nowhere, I've gotten no value from it at all. But, I've gotten more value out of my work ethic from when I was younger. Hard for me is, I can't do hard labor nor do I want to work more than 40 hours. I want higher pay but, less work because, of my health condition. None of us Millennials wanted to do the hard work, and now we're too old to care. I'd like to finish my business degree just for the hell of it because, I know it won't mean anything at this point. By the time I do, I won't be working hard labor anymore. Here's the thing though, I've done extra effort for 20 years at companies that did not care, or recognize ethic and hard work. I still do hard work and focus on doing the best I can, I hate corporations period. Great video, but....

[@richardbigouette3651]

I battle the "good enough" culture by using this mentality. My work is my life and signature. Am I willing to hand this job over and sign it with my name all over it? That's the mentality that's kept me from lowering my quality of work.

[@tycobandit]

I agree, I’m an industrial automation/robotics tech. I’m at a point in my career where I focus intensely more on the quality of work I’m producing vs. what I’m getting paid. Sounds weird but I get more satisfaction out of that than whatever the hell is deposited in my bank account at the end of the month.

[@tb7125]

The richest guy I know is a roofer.

[@EternallyGod]

Tornado alley in the US?

[@zackzander425]

You need to leave your small town.

[@Sy-Con]

Working on it Mike! 🫡

[@AnonymousMiner2]

34$ an hour is minimum wage for an auto mechanic in Southern California right now. Some dealerships are offering up to 75$ an hour for highly certified mechanics. These are guys making 100+ hours a pay period too. So 15k a month to work on cars. Office jobs are a useless joke

[@koltoncrane3099]

Office jobs aren’t useless jokes. It depends on the job. It’s like sure Cali pays more for work jobs like being a mechanic but you do realize even hamburger chefs now make $20 an hour starting out. Obviously skilled mechanics will make more. The point is fast food is now going to automate more.

[@koltoncrane3099]

Also a ton of office jobs pay well. I remember hearing an accounting firm hired out of state people for $80k starting out remotely probably cause if you live in Cali they pay way more.

[@koltoncrane3099]

Cali has a huge issue with real estate kind of like New York. I remember one guy that worked finance in New York said they pay more cause it’s higher costs to live there but they pay more then just living costs or over pay.

[@koltoncrane3099]

Also you mentioned the word certified. The government and organizations making people get certified keeps wages up. It’s why companies pay people more than are certified accountants

[@koltoncrane3099]

Also cali raising the minimum wage for burger chefs as a new minimum wage really should raise everything. I remember Sam’s club or costco a few years ago hearing how they now started employees at $15. It’s like okay. $15 to be out of the sun or rain is nice. If you’re a welder you’ll obviously have to be paid more than that. The other issue is $75 an hour for highly certified mechanics. How much do you make starting out? Also the laws make it so if you want to be certified in like accounting to take tests you literally have ti take some graduate classes. Making people be certified helps drive up wages sure. It’s why lawyers will always be expensive because you can’t offshore that work.

[@LittlehorseReynolds]

Gen Z is going to have to get in the trades if they want running water, electricity, cars that can be fixed and run and plumbing. I can go on and on about this. these things do NOT run by themselves and it takes people to maintain it.

[@janelle-westsideblonde]

The younger generation doesn’t care who is the donkey and who is the thoroughbred anymore. Even if employee grades were posted for all to see, this younger workforce won’t bat an eyelash. I agree we need more people interested in trades but again, the younger folks are seeing people become rich by going live on social media. This sends them the message that they can do less and make more.

[@patrickfouhy9102]

Question. If trade school enrollment is going up, won't that create an over abundance of people looking for jobs in the trades? In the free market we live in, even labor is subject to supply and demand. Won't we have an over abundance of trades people (supply) compared to the number of jobs companies need to fill (demand) creating a less competitive pay scale? Also, if the number of people attending trade schools goes up, won't that also create more competition to get into the trade schools, causing an inflated price of trade schools and basically repeat the same issue that universities are having? We will have a sweet spot for a little while, but seems to me like long term it's a no win situation until there is either some sort of oversight or regulation on the amount of money an education system can charge it's students, or heaven forbid we (one of the wealthiest countries in the world) just offer free continued education like so many other first world countries have.

[@GeneralChangFromDanang]

This happens in waves. When I went to school for machining, they were trying to talk me into the electro-mechanical program because the machining classes were so full. Luckily, they started night classes and I was able to get my diploma. I went back to the same school recently for some more training and found they have an average of 3-5 students in these same classes. It does seem to center around bad economic times.

[@abgs]

The thing about this is, the younger generation won’t be able to get over the mental barrier of doing trades. The tech market for example, so many people were going into tech because it was a lucrative and comfortable field, but now, those decades of “just do tech” has finally caught up and now there’s a over saturation of tech workers. However, for trades, nobody “the tik tok generation” wants to do it due to the hard labor environment. The stigma for blue collar jobs will still linger for awhile

[@sherrijones9777]

If the law of supply and demand is at play for these jobs, it won’t be long before these skilled trade workers can command $200 per hour and people will pay it to get their house plumbed or wired.

[@sb2261]

Then the market gets saturated the '80s happens all over again in tons of people are out of unskilled work and skilled work

[@EarlHayward]

They already do!

[@azskyking6542]

If you have good employees, pay them better. Offer bonuses for hitting certain goals.

[@Clux88]

But that’s where you’re wrong. The demand isn’t where it was 20 years ago. I currently work in the trades as a millennial. I have been in it since I was a teenager going on 20 years has changed a lot.

[@cboutdoorfun9955]

Although my birth year says I’m gen y I identify as gen x. I graduated in 2002 and am a tradesman. 3 years after graduation my school got rid of shop class. I hurt that starting with my generation you were expected to go to college. It also hurt that construction was in a hard time and not hiring at the time.

[@PDH-g6k]

Ever since the pandemic inflation went crazy. Housing, food, gas everything has gone up and my income as an electrician? I've gotten $3 in raises since then. I work hard, know residential code, 7 years experience, I could wire a whole house. I recently moved due to medical reasons and looking for jobs in my area in coastal NC. Most of the job offers are pay cuts. Employers want you to be able to wire a house by yourself and up to code yet they want to pay $22/hr. That's just not enough to sustain a family and get a home. I went into the trades with hope 6 years ago. Now I'm looking to going back to college.

[@JoeSmith-n7d]

Take a bow, Grandad. No doubt your influence helped shape your Grandson's ambition and work ethic.

[@tiffanyaubuchon7027]

Love both these guys!!!

[@andrew7202]

First question is the biggest problem right now in any trades field. The simplest solution to it is bring back these thrown away electives in high school. I also think we should add some: bring back auto, stop doing wood shop class as a arts and crafts and teach people how to build like a carpenter bring in hvac, plumping, electricians, mason workers, welding. It’s so disgusting to see that we have turn our backs on the people and jobs that build our great country. We have told people over the past 30+ years you wanna do trades you can’t make it in the real world, you’re a dead beat and not smart. Man the people I have met over the years doing trades are some the smartest people out there, and also some of the best paid people. We have told our children to look down on those trades people and spend insane amounts of money on an education for what? Cuz these big ass corps need people but the fields that need them the most the men and women that make this country run are the ones that need it the most. It’s crazy how no one is talking about this huge issue and if we don’t act not shit is going to go side ways real fast cuz we have a lot of older trades guys ready to retire and nowhere near the amount of people to fill that need. You think stuff cost a lot now? Well wait till you see the mast retirement in those fields cuz that will shot cost through the roof.

[@Radial-racer]

I’m an engineer, every time I talk to someone and that comes up they say “wow you make the big bucks” that is a joke. The machine operators make the same I do and can work overtime.

[@dougmay4396]

In a production company, I managed the manufacturing shop. I had a sign on the wall that said, " The enemy of the best is not the worst. The enemy of the best is GOOD ENOUGH. Author unknown.

[@NickyflatsSCG]

Would love to come speak, give my opinion on this topic. We are a small/larger commercial concrete company. We range from 50-150 employees. We have a very young crew. I have fantastic ideas to help get more young people in the trades since we have a very young crew! Full union company.

[@crittercam9565]

Teddy Roosevelt is a true life example of Grit

[@benkenny3220]

Welders near me make about $17hr... How do you make 120k with that?

[@zackzander425]

They don’t. It’s all lies and bullshit. These pricks would never have their kids be welders. The reality is $25/hour, crap benefits and lung cancer/nerve degenerative disease when you’re older. Some might make 100K a year working overtime on a refinery or pipeline project but that’s not consistent income. Most of these guys blow it all on a diesel truck with a lift kit. Everybody lies about what they’re really making. Elitists want to keep people stupid and ignorant working these types of jobs. Don’t fall for it. Smart people don’t work with their hands. Even smarter people don’t work for money. They live off the money their assets and investments earn them.

[@plumbnplumber]

Go work for one and find out

[@jameseroh6544]

Many highly paid trades people, work overtime, for a 50% boost in income. Also working the off shifts may pay 5-10% more money as part of the base.

[@az2fladude]

Has someone with a masters degree in sociology and currently working in the diesel mechanic field…… I feel like this hits me personally at 8:40

[@spicycopper2436]

In my hometown, if you graduate from one of their high schools & attended junior & senior years at that high school, you can go to the Community College for FREE. This community college offers degrees, certifications and apprenticeships ( e.g. electrical, HVAC, etc). They invest in their students and the student future. This isn't a rich county but the opposite so why aren't others doing it.

[@netasedlak9454]

Adding a column of numbers is beyond the abilities of most of the younger generations.

[@grapeape1968]

Noticed CA having issues attracting workers. I dare say it has more to do with CA than attracting workers. Florida does not seem to have this issue. How do attract someone to come to your state that is like Mexico now?

[@loicleborgne8713]

So interesting, thank you very much

[@mattodude237]

Work at an hvac/refrigeration company now, going on 6 years. Never closed once, not even during the mandated shut downs. People need hospitals and food and the day they don't is the day all of our jobs have "been taken over"

[@TheRealiRgrunt]

Problem with the trades is they don’t pay enough. Some locations are better than others, I think Orlando is one of the worst… COL websites are not accurate, but the wages are. So, unless you want to learn a trade then start your own business, trades are a slow death.

[@EarlHayward]

Problem with [fill in the blank] is they don’t pay enough… When you omit skills, knowledge, experience, competence, work ethic, attitude, and all the other factors that will always be a true statement… Start factoring in other attributes, and I will ignore decisions people make which eliminate potential opportunities (referred to as colliders in statistics) for simplicity purposes, and having a six figure successful career can be found in almost any industry… I say this as someone that paid for my undergrad while working as an electrical and hvac technician, who then spent 20ish years in corporate, and now back to electrical and hvac (by choice) at 50ish years old and still make six figures! But, in my experience it takes two years to gain competence in any new role and company before advancement starts happening and these days we see people that change jobs every six months because they don’t get promoted fast enough!

[@sterlingoldemeyer1203]

I think grit comes from suffering and failing upwards. Also self initiative to push one's own boundaries. You will never develop grit in a cage.

[@New-bw4kz]

Mikr Rowe is aging like fine wine 🤣 couldn’t concentrate on what he was saying