An Open Question Here About Skilled Trades.

seventiesdemon

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I suppose it is the same in many places around the world at the moment. Shortages of skilled tradespersons.

Not just material. Being in the building industry for some 45 years I have witnessed the worsening problem. People just don't seem to understand, or are willing to believe AI will be their savior. This is just not possible, not unless you work in the industry and understand the complications which come from material shortages, weather...and so many other natural and human factors.

The dependency upon so many different suppliers, contractors, councils, engineers, draft persons, owners, fees, government charges, licences......the list goes on.

I would like to hear from other people out there, the tradespeople, building contractors who have been the industry for years, their feedback. Also the experiences of those who have built, building and their experience.

I've seen this occur over the past 20 or 30 years...I love my industry. But it's broken in so many places.

What are your thoughts?
 
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Drifterwood

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I'm a manufacturer. I would criticise the wholesale industry. I don't know of any "real" wholesalers anymore. These big multi nationals are banks by any other name. They make their money on stock turn and credit given to the trade. As a result, they are not interested in the products so much, and therefore there's no real point in producing what would have been called "trade" quality. You'll just find the wholesalers stocking a copy at 5% less from you know where. So generally, I would say that the quality of product used by trades over the last 25 years has declined considerably. Some of the accessories used by large British housebuilders are truly of shockingly poor quality, even for £1M + properties.
 

seventiesdemon

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I'm a manufacturer. I would criticise the wholesale industry. I don't know of any "real" wholesalers anymore. These big multi nationals are banks by any other name. They make their money on stock turn and credit given to the trade. As a result, they are not interested in the products so much, and therefore there's no real point in producing what would have been called "trade" quality. You'll just find the wholesalers stocking a copy at 5% less from you know where. So generally, I would say that the quality of product used by trades over the last 25 years has declined considerably. Some of the accessories used by large British housebuilders are truly of shockingly poor quality, even for £1M + properties.

Just as an instance, fixings. Screws. Now and then I install outside decking, around pools, on 2 storey construction.

Previously I used an Australian company for stainless screws for fixing boards. Bremick. The first 3 screws broke off at the head. I pre drilled and pre countersunk the holes.......I wrote to the company, received no reply.

On the day....in teeny weeny print.......Made In China. I returned the screws, bought German made quality.....5 thousand screws later, probably had 4 failures. Chinese companies buying Aussie names to import inferior products.

I wrote to the government regulatory body, as outdoor decking is crucial to have sturdy fixings because of danger of collapse under moving humans, and weight.

Reply = 0 ..................They rely on manufacturers specifications........I can't do that. I like to sleep at night, for the next 30 years...(wishful thinking :)). I can no longer rely on manufacturers specifications...........it's turned into a bloody minefield.

Thanks Drift, for your input...Screws, fixings, nails etc, which are so crucial to support of structures, is not being policed and will fail. Not on my jobs though....nor on yours apparently.
 
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rbkwp

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What are your thoughts?

have a thought of successive governments in countries WW,who stupidly got rid of successful apprenticeship trade schemes 70sd

believe threes a shortage of truck drivers,as well ww that is

i used to smile,when they raved on about the importance of education,and the technology boom,as if it
was possibly one of the reasons for the ignorant,to forgo trade apprentices

not everyone has education to the fore
i never
but hands on,yes
many trades folk have beautiful old style craftsman/persons hands/minds
natural/skilful,to say the least
 
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seventiesdemon

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What are your thoughts?

have a thought of successive governments in countries WW,who stupidly got rid of successful apprenticeship trade schemes 70sd

believe threes a shortage of truck drivers,as well ww that is

i used to smile,when they raved on about the importance of education,and the technology boom,as if it
was possibly one of the reasons for the ignorant,to forgo trade apprentices

not everyone has education to the fore
i never
but hands on,yes
many trades folk have beautiful old style craftsman/persons hands/minds
natural/skilful,to say the least
Yes, the UK........suffering truckie shortages for fuel deliveries in a nation 940 klms long...and 480 wide????
I've watched this develop through the years. Too many people who have no idea whatsoever of what it involves making decisions.

Elect Lawyers, Lords, Real Estate Agents, and Economic graduates to positions of power..Dr's of some unknown made up bachelor degree of 2021......... This is what we get. A litigious society with no basic skills for survival.......I get it, we all need eachother to survive. But make decisions in an area I have worked in all my life.

Take the bloody time to consult us.

That's what it boils down to. Simple as that.
 
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rbkwp

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I suppose it is the same in many places around the world at the moment. Shortages of skilled tradespersons.

Not just material. Being in the building industry for some 45 years I have witnessed the worsening problem. People just don't seem to understand, or are willing to believe AI will be their savior. This is just not possible, not unless you work in the industry and understand the complications which come from material shortages, weather...and so many other natural and human factors.

The dependency upon so many different suppliers, contractors, councils, engineers, draft persons, owners, fees, government charges, licences......the list goes on.

I would like to hear from other people out there, the tradespeople, building contractors who have been the industry for years, their feedback. Also the experiences of those who have built, building and their experience.

I've seen this occur over the past 20 or 30 years...I love my industry. But it's broken in so many places.

What are your thoughts?


kwila-hardwood-decking-1800-1200-2-1140x415.jpg



bet you've laid plenty of this kweila decking huh 70s

know our hands on family got stuck in and built 2 decks,in two parents homes,no sweat
no mask wearing either,sigh
 
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seventiesdemon

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kwila-hardwood-decking-1800-1200-2-1140x415.jpg



bet you've laid plenty of this kweila decking huh 70s

know our hands on family got stuck in and built 2 decks,in two parents homes,no sweat
no mask wearing either,sigh
Bricklayer by trade RB..:) Iv'e worked on so many projects :)

Kwila is now known as Merbau...Pronounced "Merbow"

I could post photos here of stuff I've worked on from eons ago, drive past today, looks like it was built yesterday :)

One of the reasons I love what I do so much. I'll post some on here from the past further on.
 
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Scarletbegonia

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I’ve a friend who was recently inducted into his HVAC union. Not a lot of apprentices in the 18-25 range. He is 32 or so.
A client of mine, general contractor, bemoans a lack of tradespeople. He struggles to find people either willing or wanting to do the work, with skill.
Let’s not mention turnover and tardiness.

while I want to smack the police union leadership, I still see unions/collective bargaining as necessary. Training, job protection, good wages.
In my own skilled trade, we need an education standard and apprenticeship. Too many of my cohort lie, refuse to believe science, and still think we should have the professional respect of other medical pros.
 

pdxjoe

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The problem has even got to the retail salespersons in my area, stores can not hire anyone to work for them, this is even with the starting wage at more than I made when I retired 6 years ago with near 40 years in the industry. When people do accept employment they do not want to work when scheduled and produce as the people of my era did, but still want higher pay for less work and quality. No matter how much IT that comes down the road we will still need many skilled and unskilled workers to make the things we need for food, shelter and enjoyment. We need to teach the youth that to work with your hands is not a bad thing. I saw a program trailer on public broadcasting saying to the youth your work will not be your parents work pushing forward the notion that IT was the way to go, that was how I took the message to be. From what I have heard and read most of the trades all pay very well so that should not be a problem.
 
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rbkwp

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I’ve a friend who was recently inducted into his HVAC union. Not a lot of apprentices in the 18-25 range. He is 32 or so.
A client of mine, general contractor, bemoans a lack of tradespeople. He struggles to find people either willing or wanting to do the work, with skill.
Let’s not mention turnover and tardiness.

while I want to smack the police union leadership, I still see unions/collective bargaining as necessary. Training, job protection, good wages.
In my own skilled trade, we need an education standard and apprenticeship. Too many of my cohort lie, refuse to believe science, and still think we should have the professional respect of other medical pros.


thought
a lot can be said/achieved with adult apprentices,i think
my whol life could have changed in nz with such
if i had an opportunity in the 70s,i could have made a psychiatric nurse status
at the time,they had intakes of x30,3 xs a year
straight out of school youngsters
they were mostly not able to handle the physical side,shall i say,re the psych persons,of the time
teory yes
sad
 
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