Tech or Trades......

[Bassin_7]

With the state of the economy and these two industries being in the news so much as of late, I figured I would put this out there.

I know we have folks on the boards here who; have worked in each of these fields and some who have worked in both of these fields.

All we seem to hear about right now are the mass layoffs in tech and how salaries will be coming down (at least from FAANG companies). We are also starting to hear about a slow down in construction for various reasons. Everything is doom and gloom right now.

Well, I have friend who is in UX/UI and he is doing very well. He keeps trying to get me to jump into tech due to my design background (non-coding). He tells me that despite what the talking heads are saying, tech is still very much alive, hiring and offering high salaries. He says it is just the major (again FAANG, among others) companies laying people off and that the smaller companies are still hiring like crazy.

As for the trades, from my experience, it is location dependent. Things are not slowing down where we are, at all. Residential is still booming, with multi-family buildings going up left and right. As for commercial (where I am), it is crazy! We are booked through October 2024 and if we land one of a possible three other jobs we are in the running for, we are booked into spring 2025. That does not even count the smaller jobs that we have under contract. In addition, the amount of bidding taking place is crazy. Also, pay keeps increasing in the trades, available help is decreasing and work is there.

So, for those in these two career fields, if you were giving high schoolers sound advice, where would you direct them (or are they fairly similar paths right now)?

[n2ratfishin]

If it were a high schooler I'd have them look at medical. We are an obese aging population and the need isn't going to be replaced with a robot using AI in my lifetime. If they did not like medical either of the two you listed will provide, just depends on what they are passionate about. IMO too many people do work for a pay check instead of finding a need they enjoy meeting.

[unknown angler]

The machine shops in my area have been on overtime for the last couple years and no end in sight. Tool & Die makers which I was, are very hard to find.

[Booster]

That is a tough question to answer wiith a blanket answer. I believe it is dependent on the individual student's aptitude and natural "likes". If they have a knack or interest in science and math, then I would suggest they start in Tech. Something I experienced even 40 +years ago that I think is still true, I you 'miss' or skip the 'surging tech of your time', it is extremely difficult to catch up. In my example, thought I would be able to jump right back into engineerng for my Masters degree after just 4 years of being in the Army. Boy was wrong. I really struggled because things had changed so much in that brief time.

I have also seen it happen amongst my relatives and friends who decided to do a skip year for whatever reason. Tech changes are very rapid compared to the trades. A kid that has an aptitude for the trades and starts there can far exceed in success and personal satiisfaction compared someone who is struggling or is failing with the pace of Tech. Both are very important society and require unique skills.

[bilgerat]

As a 30+ year diesel tech, I (and other established techs) absolutely cringe when people say "go learn a trade" as a blanket answer whenever this conversation comes up. I could teach most of you or any other reasonably intelligent adults 2&4 cycle engine theory and perhaps get you to perform certain tasks but it won't make you a mechanic. If you don't have natural predisposition for working with your hands, you're gonna struggle, put your tools away and become another useless manager that thinks they know it all because they dabbled in it before packing it in. All the trades experience this to a degree. It's an insult to those of us who paid our dues and conduct our trade with professionalism.

Maybe Junior should go and "learn a" lawyer, accountant, pastry chef etc trade instead.

[Neverest]

Currently work in both - white and blue collar. How old is “me” and what is your experience and passion? Tech and Trade are awfully broad to provide any relevant adult advice. For adolescents, education and aptitude are significant influencers. I’d encourage high schoolers to develop an entrepreneurial mindset…

[Rich1]

Depends on what you like. I have a grandson that did not want to got to college. He has always wanted to work on BMWs. I paid for the best mechanics school I could find. Had him talk to the best BMW dealer in town. Dealer said if he passed in the top 2 percent he would hire him on the spot and send him to the BMW School in Germany for performance cars. Kids been at it six years now. He makes high 6 figures every year doing what he loves. Trades can be your answer, but like my grandson, you have to good and do it right the first time. The second time on the same problem is out of your pocket.

[BMCD]

Hard to say what where the hotness will continue. The old cliche do something you want to do works in this time. Rising wages in many sectors.

[dwtaylor]

I think I would rather try to influence a young person on personal finance over career choice, IMO. Industries and macroeconomics will change over time whereas sound personal finance practices will last a lifetime.

They both have pros/cons.

[Alliston64]

A tradesman with some business acumen and leadership abilities can easily become a business owner. Some of the most successful contractors in our area are owned by a guy that did the trade himself for long enough to believe and bet on himself. Service trades are nearly recession proof. Regardless how bad things get, most are going to sacrifice whatever is needed to make sure the toilets flush, lights turn on, and the heat and cooling work. Those guys running the tech companies need people to fix their stuff! Hahaha!

[1stindoor]

As others have already said, I would try and get them to determine their passion or likes and then find the balance with needed income. Making a lot of money is great unless you have no time to enjoy the fruits of your labor or are miserable getting up to go to work every day. I saw a quote on LinkedIn the other day that I thought was pretty insightful, "In 20 years, the only people that will remember how late you worked every day...will be your family."

[TNsmalliesfan]

Union Pipefitter here,business is a boomin!

[JAZII]

As others have already said, I would try and get them to determine their passion or likes and then find the balance with needed income. Making a lot of money is great unless you have no time to enjoy the fruits of your labor or are miserable getting up to go to work every day. I saw a quote on LinkedIn the other day that I thought was pretty insightful, "In 20 years, the only people that will remember how late you worked every day...will be your family."

I agree 100% with that, but the boss will get on you for leaving 10 minutes early every time.

[angleiron]

Kids and most people these days have ZERO mechanical abilities to do anything, and that is where the trades comes in. Know someone who said that the electrician union will take anyone these days as far as an apprenticeship. If someone was to look at a trade where it will always be needed , then bust his ass to learn what is needed and go out on his own and be his/her own boss. If you go tech then you better go big and specialize in something that takes brains/talent.

[LewStulePH.D.]

Open toed shoes are a +.. it helps w/the counting...

[havacman]

You must have mechanical aptitude to excel in hands on trades like mechanics, HVAC, electrician, plumbing etc. without it a person will struggle. Personally in HVAC industry a person has to have aptitude to learn line voltage circuits and sizing, low voltage circuits, refrigeration piping and design, gas piping and proper sizing, proper venting practices, correct refrigeration procedures, duct design and throw a little electronics in there. It takes time, effort and you have to work at it to be good. Most don’t want it enough to be good, those who do can make a really good living. A older fellow I worked with when I first started made a quote years ago “ When I started you worked harder to make more money, now they want more money to work harder”. Still stays true 30 years later.

[Bassin_7]

Great responses so far and I hope they keep coming.

As a project manager/electrician, I can confirm, most trades (especially ours) are extremely short on not just talented individuals, but apprentices and helpers as well.

[Kromer]

I was an auto mechanic at a young age, professionally trained and certified and all paid for by my employer. This was 45 years ago.
After 10 years in that "Trade" I realized that you take a beating (physically) and by just looking at the older people I worked with let alone how I felt. So I got into sales and it was the best thing I ever did. For earnings I far and away exceeded anything I could have imagined otherwise.

Having said that my best friend who is a young fellow of about 50 is the shop foreman at a Mercedes dealer and we spoke this morning while he was on his way into work.
I was floored when he told me the shop labor rate is moving in June to $350.00 an hour.

[Gsmith223]

Your friend is correct IT is still alive and well. While some companies are laying off there are plenty hiring still. As far as trades go most everyone I know who does them has had many different employers and get laid off fairly often. When they start over with a new company they start back over on the payscale, PTO, and benefits. My dad was a roofer for over 30 years he did it all, hot tar pitch, rubber roofing, Sheetmetal, ect. His advice to me was to do good in school and get an office job to save the wear and tear on my body. He was right, the trades are not forgiving to an old mans body.

[Rangerdeepv]

IT will always be in demand at one level or another. Sure there will be peaks and valleys in different arenas of the profession but computers are not going away. A trade will always be needed as there will always be pipes, wires and building trades. HVAC, CNC techs and such are in high demand constantly. Coming from the electrical power industry we were always looking for 'power' electrical engineers..........not the digital people. The grid is going to be under severe stress and changes as time marches on and most of the power guys are gone or retired.