[chamanbuga]

I used to think the trades is where the money is. I've met so many plumbers, AC repairmen, general contractors, firealarm installers - who are really doing well for themselves. Then just the other day there was a Reddit thread about lack of jobs in trades in Toronto. I did a double take. The joke in our friends was our immigrant parents pushed us to study and get corporate jobs and all the trades folks and real-estate agents seem to be doing better than us. A true grass is greener on the other side moment.

I learned that at most trades companies, there are folks with over 20 years of experience and then newbies. No one in between. Every economic cycle, the folks with 5-10 years of experience get laid off. Apprentice are rarely trained by the old dog and put out in the field with minimal experience.

Perhaps this is a Toronto, Ontario problem. Ontario is going through a major economic cycle that has almost everyone feeling quite hard times. Or perhaps this is just the negativity that is Reddit. There is also the BS that income waged workers pay double, if not more, taxes that businesses or self employed workers.