5 myths about the skilled trades

July 19, 2022

5 mythThe skilled trades have an image problem. They’re seen as noisy, dirty and loud—not a valid career choice. A fallback position if you can’t get into college. Since the 70s, high school guidance counselors have tried to disabuse any student who expressed interest in being a carpenter or an electrician. Go to college, they’re told. That’s the ticket.

College is fine—but it’s not for everyone. A career in skilled trades can be a fantastic choice. In this post, we’ll look at five common myths about the skilled trades that may be keeping you from investigating a career in skilled trades. See if any of them resonate with you. Maybe you need to recalibrate the way you think about skilled trades. It could open up a world of opportunities for you.

Myth 1: The skilled trades don’t pay well.

“It’s absolutely not true that the trades don’t pay well,” says Becky Manson, journeyman electrician in Midland, Mich. She will be taking a vacation to a Jamaican resort with her spouse and kids in December “when it’s as cold as hell here.”

“You may not start out at what you think is very great pay. I started out at $10 an hour 11 years ago. You have to earn that $40 or $50 an hour. If you work hard and you’re willing to learn, you can get to that $40 or $50 an hour.”

Meanwhile, consider this: The average trade school education costs just $33,000 compared to $127,000 to earn a degree from a four-year college. So no student debt! That means you get to keep everything you earn.

In 10 years, Becky would like to be a general foreman. She’s the onsite foreman now. “I still put my tools on,” she said. She likes the idea of “running the show” from “behind the scenes,” scheduling progress meeting, working on RFIs, etc.

Myth 2: The skilled trades are only for men.

It’s true that most skilled tradespeople are men. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There’s no reason women can’t make up least a half of skilled trades jobs—or more! There is nothing about the skilled trades that makes them a male job.

Sexist attitudes that kept women away from construction are gradually fading away. The number of women working in the trades is expected to double over the next 10 years.

“Women bring a lot to the table,” Becky said. “We may not be as physically strong as men, but we can still do the job and do it right. On top of that, we bring a different perspective—a different way of viewing things. That gives you better results.”

See: Women make awesome skilled tradespeople.

Myth 3: The skilled trades are not a fulfilling career

That’s what high school guidance counselors have been telling students since the 70s. However, ask any skilled tradesperson and he/she will tell you about the feeling of pride that swells in them when they drive by a structure that they helped create.

The truth is that skilled trades are essential for modern society. Without construction workers, there would be no infrastructure: roads, highways, and airports. When your air conditioning goes out in a summer swelter, the HAVC technician is suddenly the most important person in the world! And indoor plumbing, hot-and-cold running water? Not without plumbers!

The skilled trades are what make modern society possible. You could be a part of that with a career in the skilled trades!

Says Becky, “Being an electrician, you have to get power to a home or to a plant—you’re bringing the ‘life’ to that structure, running the wires through the holes in the studs.”

Every day’s a new challenge and a new accomplishment.

“For example, the other day, I was working with our apprentice on the fire booth at the chemical plant, showing him how to do stuff. We made the conduit system plumb and level, but all the offsets were mismatched with one another. The mechanical prints weren’t synced with our prints. So we took the time and had to backtrack. When we were done the project was able to move on—and I was able to pass along some important lessons to my apprentice, so it felt great!”

Myth 4: It’s difficult to find a skilled trades job

Some people assume that the skilled trades are only seasonal jobs or temporary. Yes, it’s true there are skilled trades jobs like this, but there are many projects that last years, and many contractors are hiring full-time skilled tradespeople.

There is a pronounced shortage of skilled tradespeople in America. Many contractors are having to delay projects because they can’t find the carpenters, electricians, masons, and plumbers to work for them. And it’s only going to get worse, as there is a large number of older skilled trades people getting ready to retire.

The truth is that if you want to get started in the skilled trades you can start today! A laborer gig is a great way to get a foot in the door. From there, you go through an apprenticeship and then you’re a journeyman. From there, you could become a master and earn all sorts of extra certifications. See: How a general labor job can get you into the construction industry.

“We went through a hiring frenzy recently,” Becky says. “Finding enough quality people was a real challenge.”

Myth 5: Skilled trades jobs aren’t intellectually stimulating

The myth is that skills-based jobs are all brawn and no brain. The cynic says, “How much brainpower does it take to swing a hammer?”—but the truth is that the skilled trades are all about problem-solving.

The skilled tradesperson will start off testing the standard issues and fixes, and if that doesn’t work he/she will use increasingly complex troubleshooting procedures to determine the root cause of a problem. Every day it’s some new hurdle! All of the trades require an understanding of many advanced mathematical and scientific concepts. You wouldn’t want a carpenter who failed geometry to build your family’s house. You wouldn’t want a plumber who doesn’t understand physics to fix your broken toilet.

The myth is that the skilled trades are for people who couldn’t “cut it” in college.

“We had an incident with some control wiring, where the prints that were sent to us—it just wouldn’t do what they were trying to do. I sat down my foremen and my apprentices and we had to think, ‘Okay, this is what they want to do with this piece of equipment. How do we make it work? And we did!”

Becky says she’s continually problem solving when she’s on the job. “There are many times when I get home and one of the kids will ask me a question and I’ll say, ‘My brain hurts. Can we talk about this later?’”

Wrapping up

So are you fully debunked? There is no limit to what a skilled tradesperson can accomplish. Great Lakes Skilled Trades offers plenty of job opportunities within the trades. We always have open positions. No experience? Start out as a temporary laborer and work your way up. Why not call us today?

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A group of construction workers wearing hard hats and safety vests are smiling.

Overcoming Common Challenges in Urban Commercial Construction

March 27, 2024

Urban commercial construction brings a whole set of challenges that contractors in the suburbs and rural areas never have to consider. But revitalization is extremely important for urban cores to survive and thrive, so these projects can be quite lucrative. Here are some common difficulties, along with tips to overcome them and remain on good terms with the neighbors. Tight Spaces In urban areas, there simply isn’t as much space to move around. You might have difficulty getting some of your heavy machinery to fit, or your subcontractors could be trying to paint an apartment the size of an average broom closet. Rise to the challenge by thinking outside the box. Carefully survey the entire space before you get started, and develop a detailed project plan in advance. Be sure to include entry and egress routes, alternative ways of getting things done, and even subcontractor schedules that minimize the number of people working in the same space at the same time. Local Regulations Many urban areas have byzantine construction regulations that are confusing and hard to follow. Take the time to research these regulations and understand what you need to do. Then, boil it all down into a simple, easy-to-read document that you distribute to everyone involved. Get to know the local authorities and find someone whom you can call whenever you have questions or concerns. Make sure your team members are ready to pivot if you find out that you missed or misinterpreted something significant. Always have a backup plan. Community Engagement Transparency can go a long way toward getting the local community on your side. Let people know what you’re working on and how it will benefit them. Explain why the project is happening, how long it will take, and whether it will impact their costs (such as taxes). If you’re redeveloping a historic building, be especially sensitive to the concerns of preservationists and meet with them separately to explain your plans. Noise Control You won’t endear yourself to the local community if you’re making a lot of noise when residents are trying to sleep. And remember, even if you’re working on an office building, there could be luxury apartments right next door. Use sound baffling measures to reduce noise. Whenever possible, work during daylight hours. Minimizing Disruptions No matter how careful you are, urban commercial construction projects are inherently disruptive to the neighborhood. But you can mitigate this with careful planning. Try not to block streets during morning or evening rush hours. Be considerate of any upcoming local events. Do your best not to interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic patterns. When you do need to create a blockage, be sure to put up signage and work as quickly as you can without compromising safety. Need a Skilled Trade Professional? At Great Lakes Skilled Trades, we specialize in connecting contractors with professionals in the skilled trades throughout the Great Lakes region. If you need a skilled tradesperson, learn more about our services, and then contact us today!