[livius]

I lived in Butler 25 years ago, and the papers were lamenting this same situation. The government poured money into "retraining," although without much impact. As you say, people are reluctant to move, and reluctant to change in any way. Instead, they howl for the government to keep things from changing, which aside from being unprofitable, is impossible.

These folks should learn a new skill, and it can still be one that involves working with their hands. I have friends and relatives in the construction business, and they say they are desperate for good workers. But most of their applicants do not have basic manual skills or the interest in learning them, and on top of that, they have lousy work habits (drug use, drunkenness, simply not showing up for work). These are not badly paying jobs, btw, even to start, and a really skilled construction worker can do very nicely after a few years.

Not to mention what a good plumber or electrician can make!

[Semper Paratus]

a really skilled construction worker can do very nicely after a few years.

In my area the better contractors are booked months in advance.

[Michael Barnes]

I don't live very far from Butler. The construction bizz around here is hammering the contractors. There is new construction, private contracting construction; it's all over the place. These guys could do very well as "Handyman" types if they put their minds to it. If they want to take a pay cut and learn a new skill, there is plenty of work around here for the "Hands-on" type. I know a "kid" around here who is 22, making 200 bucks a day. That's not small change for a 22 y/o in the construction arena.

[redangus]

When nobody has a job who will pay the electricians and plumbers?