Still think TITNC3: Return of the Iceberg was peak

I argue things whether I'm right or wrong like it's the most important thing I have to do in my life. I'm cognizant enough I'm just gonna play Valheim for a couple more hours and then go to bed.

 

Build some houses in there. They're needed.

 

We have the same theory.

When I was in school votech was part of every high school in the country. In 30 years it's almost gone extinct. A recent client actually works for a non-profit that awards grants to high schools so they can have shop, metal, and auto classes. Until I talked with him I had no idea votech courses weren't offered any more at most high schools. They've been replaced with computer classes. So, we end up with a metric shit ton of architects and structural engineers but nobody with the skill set to build what they design. lol

 

I'm doing what I can!!!

 

We've tried. The labor pool just isn't there. And $10K on the stuff I build isn't even a consideration. Our price per square is starting to approach robbery. Yet, people gladly write the check. lol

 

I don't think anybody here would disagree with that. This push for everybody to go to college ended up with a bunch of kids like me that graduated with English degrees that are useless in the real world. Some of us figured it out and made it, and a lot more are stuck mired in student loan debt working retail and fast food in their 30's

 

Pay me $90/hr and I'll let you whip me while you teach me how to build homes. And I'll smile the entire time.

 

You are directionally correct here. What should be happening is prices rise and demand cools until supply and demand reach equilibrium. Paying the workforce available more would certainly take care of the increasing prices (moreso than other forces already at work) and increase supply.

The issue here is what if you need 50 people on your workforce and there are only 30 within a 200 mile radius willing to work in your industry at ANY price?

I was browsing job listings in my area a while back and a roofing company had an ad up that I loved:

"Previous experience a plus but willing to work with anyone who will show up every day and work hard to learn the trade."

I wonder what problem they were having? lol.

 

I firmly believe there's not a labor problem, there's a wage problem.

A lot of people get hung up on "people don't want to work", but I don't think that's the case. People will absolutely work, and work hard if they're making a wage that provides a decent living.

 

And another thing Kairo might wish to consider: This is how that capital makes its way back to the other 60%. $200k price premiums on homes built for people who can afford it.

 

This is the same argument that Texas mask company made. They were ramped up to make masks during the swine flu epidemic and then when everybody came to them during Covid they said hey we can’t handle this you all promised to keep buying masks from us but didn’t. You went right back to China. Nova did a whole special about it pretty amazing. The US government still won’t promise to buy masks from them because they’re $.10 more expensive than China now.

 

I don't understand how that capital makes its way back to the 60%?

If you were born 50 years ago and bought a house in a desirable area, yes, you've accumulated wealth and it has "trickled down" (not really) to you.

If you're a kid who just graduated with a degree in engineering and you can't afford to buy a house 3 years out of college when your dad did the same thing....there's probably a disconnect somewhere.

 

Wrong. How's starting at $30/hr with ZERO experience sound? Yet, people work for a day then vanish. It's a work ethic problem.

 

I made a fucking fortune in '20 because my company had the foresight to import KN95's via air freight.

 

Wages are too low then. That's basic supply and demand. If people are bailing at $30/hr than your pay is too low

 

You're looking at generalities (and I agree with you), but the problems in construction are in the specifics. It's not that people don't want to work, it's that we need 6 skilled welders working 10hr days to keep up with demand and there are only 3 in the area. And they won't work 20hr days no matter what we pay them. And even if they did, they'd be so tired they'd weld their dick to the boiler piping and the company would go bankrupt from the lawsuit settlement.

The other issue with the trades is the lifespan of workers. Bodies tend to wear out in the late 40s/early 50s with that kind of work.

 

LOL. Bullshit. I've seen one kid that bailed working at McDonalds and another kid that bailed working at Starbucks. Why? Because they pay more? Fuck no. Because the job is easy.

 

Truth. My back yells at me every day for my choice of profession. My ego makes it shut the fuck up so I can get back to work. lol

 

Or addiction/mental illness issues.

Work one day ---> $240 ---> Meth bender until money's gone ---> Surprised to find out they missed 4 days of work and are not welcome back at the site.

 

You've reached the crux of my argument. The hill I will absolutely die fighting on.

We need to provide affordable post high school edcuation to every person in this country. I'm a big fan of the german testing model. You test into university or you test into trade school.

Either route should have a guarantee that if you learn your trade/degree you should be able to earn a sustainable living. Yah the lawyer will probably make more than the plumber over lifetime earnings, but the plumber is arguably more valuable to society than the lawyer is.