[esseph]

Correct. Dozens or hundreds of workers for every manager or foreman.

There's also a lot of owner/operator one-man shops.

[knollimar]

Consider the turnover rate as an geometric series.

Also 1 foreman in the electrical field runs effectively 50 guys max if good, and smaller sites might be 10 men to a foreman. I currently have 3 foreman running 5 to 6 guys each at my current company (2 close sites of 3)

[esseph]

50:1

10:1

Big range, but still a lot of workers for every foreman.

(Father in law did 35yr in carpentry and teaching job corps)

[knollimar]

It's really not the ratio but the turnover. Guys who aren't making it up into leadership self select after 5 years or so.

The ratios seem unbelievable to those in tech, but I'm just saying you're unlikely to make it to 10 years without having at least the opportunity for some leadership.

[esseph]

> make it to 10 years without having at least the opportunity for some leadership.

Maybe if that person is young and hasn't done real work.

The best ICs are often horrible managers, it's a different career. Same applies idea here. Or just don't want to put up with the bullshit, the fights, the showing up drunk to work, or missing tools, etc.