I still remember them pushing everyone towards Uni and Tafe when I was in High School. Yet, some of the wealthiest guys I know are tradies.

The trick is obviously to eventually get off the tools into a leadership role to avoid the inevitability of a broken body.

bogan is living the dream.

Feb 25, 2024 22:14:23 GMT NATH45 said:

I still remember them pushing everyone towards Uni and Tafe when I was in High School. Yet, some of the wealthiest guys I know are tradies.

The trick is obviously to eventually get off the tools into a leadership role to avoid the inevitability of a broken body.

It is tricky, there are some trades you can do until 70 that don't hit the body that hard and some that will leave you crippled at 55.
This is where raising the retirement age doesn't work, not every brick layer is going to be able to get a job off the tools.


There was an article the other day about people doing the stop go sign on Union jobs are going to gross 125k a year plus overtime.
It is crazy, absolutely... But it is also about supply and demand.
When I started high school there were tech schools and high schools, I went to one of the last tech schools, it had an engineering department with lathes and mills, plumbing, electronics etc. while I was completing my secondary schooling they closed down tech schools and took out all the great equipment.
Even when I was in high school it became a one way funnel to University.

It is only now starting to change.
My nephew is doing a Year 11 program where he does 3 days at school, one day at trade school and one day on the tools at an employer who has signed him as an apprentice.
This makes way more sense to me than forcing everyone to sit exams when they are never going to make it to college.

Happy free labor day for everyone working on a salary and is effectively working for free tomorrow.