Some of you may remember the TV show named Dirty Jobs starring host Mike Rowe.
From 2005 to 2012, Rowe would tag along with people who had the dirtiest jobs in America. He was outstanding at capturing the essence of a job in the most graphic of details, helping viewers appreciate all of the jobs that came with disgusting smells and physically demanding conditions.
As I meander about the county, I learn so much from so many people.
There are quite a few employers in our rural communities struggling to find people who know how or want to work with their hands. Nobody wants to get dirt under the fingernails anymore.
Our society is guiding youth in the direction of working with computers, solely. Many schools have eliminated shop classes. Starting in seventh grade, I recall taking classes for woodworking, electrical, and metals. Spot welding, wiring, using drills and saws, I learned it all. And, then we had home economics classes, so I learned how to sew a pillow and a jacket, while also learning how to bake food like apple crisp. Surprisingly, while I wasn’t crazy about the home economics classes, that experience has unexpectedly come in handy throughout my life. I just don’t care to brag too much about my fabulous sewing skills, if you know what I mean.
We need more construction workers, electricians, plumbers, mechanics, and farmhands — just to name a few. We are reaching a point at which there is more work to be done than there are tradesmen to get the job done.
And, while many of us think we are getting smarter because we have all of this technology at our fingertips, such as a smartphone, I would argue that we are actually getting dumber.
There are some people who will call an electrician because they don’t know how to change a light bulb. Well, either they don’t know how, or they are too lazy to figure it out. Nonetheless, they are paying a professional to do something that is ridiculously easy. We have so many people who don’t know how to use a hammer or screwdriver.
Adding to the challenge is the changing dynamic of the family farm. In years past, kids growing up on farms learned how to fix and build things with their hands. They passed that knowledge onto their children. With fewer farms and smaller farm families, we are steadily losing ground with the next generations.
Today, with the absence of shop classes in schools, if your father was inept to the trades then you will most likely carry on his lack of knowledge.
I recently heard a comedian talking about time travel. He said if he was sent back in time to the early 1900s, he could tell everyone about all of the incredible things that exist today, but he couldn’t tell anybody how it works. He concluded, “I have no idea how any of this stuff works. I’d be completely useless if I went back in time.”
If you know of any young people contemplating a career path after high school, you may want to encourage them to go to a technical school to learn the trades. According to what I am hearing from local employers, the opportunities are abound.
MaryAnne says
Jason – I would be curious to know what ‘many’ schools in our area no longer have offerings for any trades. To my knowledge, that is just an internet myth everyone likes to jump on and believe. I believe most of our area schools, if not all, offer classes such as woodworking, welding, etc. If I am incorrect, I would like to know – how’s that for a story idea? 🙂
George says
$38 an hour with benefits? No applicants? In Phoenix? Sounds like a fishing story. I would work with shock sensitive explosives for that kind of money.
Lyman Grieve says
I should have stated that I ran into this individual in Phoenix, however his company is located in the northwestern part of the U. S., the business operates in the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho & northern California.
Lyman Grieve says
I am very much in agreement with your article about “Dirty Jobs”. I hear comments like yours on a daily basis.
It would be interesting to read Commencement addresses at Graduations at area high schools. I would bet that a large majority if not all would not just encourage, but insist that all graduates need to go to a 4 year college & obtain a degree. All graduates do not & should not go to a 4 year college. This philosophy has been beaten into the minds of graduates for years. There has been very little encouragement to go to a “trade school”.
I do give President Trump credit for mentioning trade schools quite often.
About a year ago had had two tubular skylights installed in my town home. I had a very difficult time finding someone to do the job. Finally I got a carpenter in his early fifties to install them. He did a very thorough job, his hourly rate was $64.00 per hour. Not to bad for getting your hands dirty & sweating a little.
Last winter in Phoenix I ran into an individual who mentioned that his company was looking for laborers. Starting pay was $38.00 an hour with full benefits. No applicants.
I believe that a significant percentage of our youth [Caucasians in particular] are obsessed with their electronic devises & are just plain lazy.
Who is to blame? I believe that many parents, the media & Academia have made our youth feel inferior if they do not attend college.
Anonymous says
I’ve heard tell that people want the older tractors because they can fix them. The ones now, with all the electronics and satellite control, if they break down a specialist has to come out to the farm. Some times the old ways are better.