How Will New HVAC Employees be Found?

If you pay the money they will come. I have been an electrician for 37 years working on and off in the HVAC field, but it is hard to find a fair wage. It is so cut throat out there, people are leaving the trade. Used to be a person could raise a family on trades wages, but no longer. Almost better off as a Wal Mart greeter.

Vic

You'd figure that if enough folk left the trade then you could write your own ticket...

What is happening is that those who are now in charge of the budget have little appreciation for the industrial arts.

Think about it. Was a time when either before or after a job your client's finance minister would have a coffee with you and chat about their own experiences "in the trade", but not any more.

Nowadays they regard you with suspicious contempt through ignorant eyes believing that comprehension or any empathy is far below their lofty station in life.

Bitter and twisted here.

Let them snake out their own drains I say.

Well not quite sure of your location but up here in the north cali area, journeyman electricians make 47.00 per hour and further north east Sacramento area our mechanics and electricans here at work are making 45.00 per hour. Now with the recent drop in housing prices up here they can purchase a home for 200 - 300K.

Our General Forman Electrician made 116,000.00 last year with his OT, while our Mechanics turned (journeyman) 148,000.00 with their OT.

Not a bad living for an actualy fast ROI from training.

I think it has more to do with the fact that it is labor intensive and the kids today are soft compared to their parents that had to really dig in and work for a living.

My kid now works for me as an apprentice in our automation division starign at 15.00 per hour at 18, but he is getting the midwestern work ethic shoved into him like my dad did for me!

That's great to hear how you are handling your son's personal and career development.

I hope that those rates aren't just a wave crest waiting to break when it hits shallower waters.

Fingers crossed for you!! Though luck has little to do with it.

I just hate being brow beaten by shiny butted, pompous, paranoid and useless minions is all....

The trouble with services is you can't repossess goods if not paid for.

Then there's the clown who wants the Ferrrari but only has the money for a broken roller skate lace...

The rates are union rates and have been progressing upward even in this down economy. Takes my competitive edge away on bid day since labor rates need to reflect the new union rates. But most jobs now days are prevailing wage jobs which makes non union match union labor.

Heck I have been around so long that I remember when it was cheaper to have the mechanic rebuild the 5-line compressors, now its less to just replace the whole compressor with the rise of labor rates.

Well if let them sit and stew in their own sweat or freeze their buns off they will sooner or later come up with the money that looks good to someone.

I firmly believe we are recruiting a way to late for engineers in any field and trades people by the same token. The baby boomers may be to blame a bit but the following generation has to share the blame. To many are quick to buy the toys for the 3 to ? year old an electronic device in hopes they can raise a specialist and can distract the young ones into a time consuming event that spares the adult parent of responsible parenting..The need to work,play, and rest contributes to this. The need for more marketable toys that require hands on approach to real life experiances is at this time a must..The erector set in the past, The Logos, The dominoes, The crystal radio sets and many others need to be retooled to todays market .HVAC mechanics is 3rd grade knowledge until you involve the computerized control system. once the Laborer or the serviceman or the student becomes educated to these the market place is open to the jobs he can enjoy with out dealing with an overheated or cold or broke distraught customer..

My son was working for a smaller HVAC company and was making a good living wage. When the owner decided to sell out to a national firm (of course without a thought for his current employees) my son was forced out as they hired younger kids just out of school at a much lower wage. The lesson here? get as much as you can when you can. Let the bullsh*t go in one ear and out the other. You have to be as ruthless about your job as employers. Remember, nice guys finish last. More true today than ever before.

Young people just need to feel wanted in the industry. If they feel they can make a good life for themselves they will want to get trained and into the field.

http://www.rexxindustrialparts.com

Hello, in France despite a declining level of education, graduating students with a degree(HVAC) get a job with a modest salary at the beginning of course but in an industry employing over and over again. For older employees who wish to retrain there training for adults.

Sorry for my English

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