[Fishrrman]

racebannon wrote:
Name one technology that is not in immediate danger of being outsourced or off-shored?

OK, I'll try: plumbing. Yes, plumbing (laughs)

Folks are always going to require the bathroom. And existing plumbing wears out with use (I know this from having replaced one entire bathroom downstairs, with my upstairs in need of rebuilding, too). This means there will always be a need for skilled laborers who can repair existing infrastructure as well as build new installations.

Got a kid reaching the point where he has to start thinking about a lifelong career? A career that will sustain him throughout his working life? Granted, one won't become "rich" by working a plumber's life, but the income will be above average (priced a plumber lately?), he (she?) will likely have more work than he can handle for years to come.

Also, a tradesman's craft is pretty much "self-directing" in the sense that one doesn't have a boss constantly looking over his shoulder or telling him what to do. One may get a bit dirty now and then, but at the end of the workday, he'll know his "hands are clean"....

Cheers!
- John

[raybbr]

I totally agree. However, when was the last time you heard anyone in the established education world or even anyone, period, advocate not going into college for an education.

[RaceBannon]

That is the direction I am leaning towards, not just Plumbing, but more so to electrician.

I am starting school AGAIN, this time to add an AS in EE to my resume instead of anothe CAD software that is only going to be useless in this economy!...(sigh)

[Fraulein]

True. A friend of mine's father has been a plumber for eons, and he has done well supporting himself and his family.

[taxed2death]

I don't know what state you live in but the trades here in CT have been completely decimated by illegals. Plumbing, HVAC-cooling, Auto Body repair, Automotive repair, Carpentry, electrical and on and on have been over-run by illegals.

They drove the price of framing houses down from 16 dollars an hour, to 6 dollars an hour.

Now before some dumb-ass comes along and says this is great for the "consumer"....think about it. Now small business owners are literally FORCED to break the law and hire whole crews of illegals to replace their American citizens, or they'll be priced out of business. You lose your tax base because these scumbags don't pay their fair share of taxes.

I just hired a landscaper to put in $8000.00 of trees in my yard, he showed up the first day to do the estimate with an all American crew, I know, I asked. Then he comes back three weeks later with 6 illegals, ........I told him I'll rip up the contract in 3 seconds if he doesn't get a crew of Americans in here on the job in 4 hours.

Guess what, he did.

All of the entry level / apprentice positions in ALL of the trades in my state are being filled by illegals. ALL OF THEM!


What about the kids graduating from my states trade high school.....they're shit out of luck. The have to get jobs at Burger king.

So be careful out there, the trades are not really a safe haven any more.