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Sure thing, BUT, if everyone retrained to these fields, the supply would far outstrip the demand. In addition, the workers (and not just IT) who are being displaced are usually older and the drop in income over the period of years it takes to become certified through apprentice and journeyman would be a huge hit on the economy. It takes quite a number of years to become an experienced craftsman making $65,000+ and by the way the average IT pay in this country is around 65K and that after a number of years of experience. Besides that, many trades and skilled crafts jobs are being filled by immigrants and illegals (the unions and their dem buddies look at it as a pool of pliable, easy to lead dem voters). Meanwhile, the displaced workers, many of whom retrained from manufacturing jobs because IT was the upcoming burning need of american commerce are left floundering, with little prospects, age discrimination and no money with which to continue to fuel the economy based on the products and services the companies that laid them off sell. Hope the corporate weasels can convince the Indian Chinese and Mexican populace to buy their expensive goods, because before long they will kill their markets in the U.S. Finally, before you write me off as another whining, unemployed IT guy, I did work in IT for 9+ years after a military career. But I saw where things were going and being 50+ I was not going to get caught in the blatant age, sex and preference for offshoring discrimination that was/is going on. I made a jump to an administrative position in academia, with a sizeable cut in pay. It pays less, but in the position I and many others are in, it made sense. Besides, with the background, training/education and very varied experience I have, I could have retrained to anything from skilled trade to a business concern and threatened your job or found a way to put you out of business in favor of my own. There are a lot of us out here and if we all decide to retrain/reinvent ourselves into the same areas you are in, you are going to be very threatened indeed.

Hey Southack! Come over here and check out this Agamemnon character, and my responses to him.

You're an example of a very successful small business owner who I hope continues to succeed. That's because you are a humble and caring individual who gives a s**t what happens to people other than himself.

Agamemnon is the opposite of you, characterwise.

There are a lot of us out here and if we all decide to retrain/reinvent ourselves into the same areas you are in, you are going to be very threatened indeed.

I have never adhered to the idea of a lifetime job or pretended that my field is somehow safe from competition or wage erosion. So bring it on.