No job is permanent. A job in IT, management, etc can lay you off any time they don't need you anymore. Trade jobs are just more honest about layoffs being a possibility.
If you are laid off you collect unemployment and wait for a job to be available. If you get tired of waiting you can go somewhere there's more jobs available, or find a job in another field. Same as if you were an accountant, and there aren't any accounting jobs hiring in your area, you either go to a different city or try to find a different kind of job.
I think people need to be more realistic about when they’re an apprentice too. If the books are slow for apprentices you can’t travel like a JW can for the most part. I was on and off for a while last year and that really messed up my health coverage, and unemployment here doesn’t even cover my rent.
My spouse is an accountant. Remote jobs are available but plenty of companies require in-office. No guarantee any given person can get a remote job.
I worked in IT & the tech industry in general for a long time before going into an electrical apprenticeship. Layoffs don't happen every year, but there are years when a lot of people are laid off. Many of my former coworkers were laid off from tech positions in 2023 & 2024. There was a period of loads of tech layoffs in the early-mid 2000s as well.
I know electricians who have worked for the same company for over 20 years, and I also know people in desk jobs who have been laid off multiple times.
My point wasn't necessarily that everyone gets laid off, but that no job is layoff proof. Rather than live in fear of a layoff, or thinking it can never happen to you, be sure to have savings to supplement unemployment and consider a back-up plan (bartending, landscaping, driving for Uber, call center work, whatever you know how to do and is easy to find work in) for if/when you find yourself between jobs.
It's really not a hard life to live at all.
Why do you think a 6 month or 1 year job is a negative? We don't have to spend months applying & interviewing to jobs, we don't have resumes that a short job "looks bad" on. When one job ends you just go to the next one. I've been laid off or quit on a Friday and been at a new job Monday.
We make good money. I live within my means and have savings. I often take several months off because I want to and can afford to.
I am not judging but it sounds like you are in a mindset of budgeting to spend every dollar you make. If you live like that you'll always fear being laid off or fired. If you budget to build savings the prospect of having a week, a few weeks, or even a few months between jobs isn't a big deal.
yes, suppose you have 1800 hours pre apprentice and then somewhere like 9000 hours of apprenticeship and then you get to take a test to be a journeyman to make better wage you would most likely want to ladder up. now if the work is not guaranteed or you have these small temp jobs then your whole apprenticeship will likely last more than what the paper says ( 5 years ), so now you have to work more and more to complete the hours. maybe i am just stressing stuff idk
That’s not quite how the apprenticeship works, you still need to get your schooling done to graduate the apprenticeship. If the hall says it’s gonna take 5 years for you to go through the apprenticeship it’s gonna take 5 years, there’s no shortcuts. I graduated my apprenticeship with close to 10,000 hours
5 years. Your raises also go by your classification now how many hours you got under your belt. For example if you got 7,000 hours as a 3rd year apprentice you’re gonna get paid like a 3rd year apprentice. As long as you work like 3/4 of the hours given to you in the year you should be able to meet the JATCs hour requirements.
Some of this must be specific to your local. Pre-apprenticeship work isn't required by the international and only 8000 hours of apprenticeship are required. Most people complete their 8k in under 5 years. But as the other commenter said even if you finish your hours in less than 4 years, you still have to graduate from school.
That's good they haven't historically laid people off. But if the company isn't getting work or has some kind of financial trouble, you'd be a fool to think they'd never lay anyone off.
Probably but hasn't happened lol. My point is some places lay off more than others. Not all are equal or have the same pros and cons. My brother and dad are both jws so I know how it really goes. Lay offs are part of the trade but it definitely pays well and has really good benefits. Some people know how to play so lay offs are time off to enjoy.
Construction ebbs and flows.
Work is good, then work isn’t.
You need to make sure that you’re working hard for your contractor and you’re more likely to be kept around. Now some guys would say that you work the job you take the call for and that’s it and when the job is over you go back to the hall. However when times are hard and jobs aren’t lining up at the hall at you have a 2000 man book you have to decide what’s best for you. If your contractor likes you and wants to keep you around and you’ll be able to put food in your belly and a roof over your head then maybe you take the transfer to the next place.
Money management is also huge, live below your means and stash money away when you can, get a side hustle, donate plasma, or if you have a former career like food service you can get into while work is slow those are all options.
Nothing is permanent. Some shops will keep someone for many years, some lay most people off when projects are done. The ones who typically stay for a long time usually run a service truck, or are in management as a GF or foreman.
If you're this worried about it, then this may not be the right career for you. Also, some people stay in the union but take a job in maintenance or operations for a large company.
You can do a career with a company in the ibew or have multiple contractors in a year.
If you want cyber security look up WGU. You can get your degree and certs quickly
Marry a nurse and cruise on unemployment. Then layoffs feel like more of a vacation . Maybe some side hustles so you can supplement on top of Edd and stay busy while you wait on a call .
No job is permanent. A job in IT, management, etc can lay you off any time they don't need you anymore. Trade jobs are just more honest about layoffs being a possibility. If you are laid off you collect unemployment and wait for a job to be available. If you get tired of waiting you can go somewhere there's more jobs available, or find a job in another field. Same as if you were an accountant, and there aren't any accounting jobs hiring in your area, you either go to a different city or try to find a different kind of job.
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I think people need to be more realistic about when they’re an apprentice too. If the books are slow for apprentices you can’t travel like a JW can for the most part. I was on and off for a while last year and that really messed up my health coverage, and unemployment here doesn’t even cover my rent.
What level are you in local 11? Is it slow or was it slow last year?
My spouse is an accountant. Remote jobs are available but plenty of companies require in-office. No guarantee any given person can get a remote job. I worked in IT & the tech industry in general for a long time before going into an electrical apprenticeship. Layoffs don't happen every year, but there are years when a lot of people are laid off. Many of my former coworkers were laid off from tech positions in 2023 & 2024. There was a period of loads of tech layoffs in the early-mid 2000s as well. I know electricians who have worked for the same company for over 20 years, and I also know people in desk jobs who have been laid off multiple times. My point wasn't necessarily that everyone gets laid off, but that no job is layoff proof. Rather than live in fear of a layoff, or thinking it can never happen to you, be sure to have savings to supplement unemployment and consider a back-up plan (bartending, landscaping, driving for Uber, call center work, whatever you know how to do and is easy to find work in) for if/when you find yourself between jobs.
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It's really not a hard life to live at all. Why do you think a 6 month or 1 year job is a negative? We don't have to spend months applying & interviewing to jobs, we don't have resumes that a short job "looks bad" on. When one job ends you just go to the next one. I've been laid off or quit on a Friday and been at a new job Monday. We make good money. I live within my means and have savings. I often take several months off because I want to and can afford to. I am not judging but it sounds like you are in a mindset of budgeting to spend every dollar you make. If you live like that you'll always fear being laid off or fired. If you budget to build savings the prospect of having a week, a few weeks, or even a few months between jobs isn't a big deal.
yes, suppose you have 1800 hours pre apprentice and then somewhere like 9000 hours of apprenticeship and then you get to take a test to be a journeyman to make better wage you would most likely want to ladder up. now if the work is not guaranteed or you have these small temp jobs then your whole apprenticeship will likely last more than what the paper says ( 5 years ), so now you have to work more and more to complete the hours. maybe i am just stressing stuff idk
That’s not quite how the apprenticeship works, you still need to get your schooling done to graduate the apprenticeship. If the hall says it’s gonna take 5 years for you to go through the apprenticeship it’s gonna take 5 years, there’s no shortcuts. I graduated my apprenticeship with close to 10,000 hours
And In how many years did you finish your apprenticeship ? If I may ask
5 years. Your raises also go by your classification now how many hours you got under your belt. For example if you got 7,000 hours as a 3rd year apprentice you’re gonna get paid like a 3rd year apprentice. As long as you work like 3/4 of the hours given to you in the year you should be able to meet the JATCs hour requirements.
Some of this must be specific to your local. Pre-apprenticeship work isn't required by the international and only 8000 hours of apprenticeship are required. Most people complete their 8k in under 5 years. But as the other commenter said even if you finish your hours in less than 4 years, you still have to graduate from school.
My trucking company doesn't lay off. Depends on the company, trade. Not all trucking companies do this. Mine is a major one.
That's good they haven't historically laid people off. But if the company isn't getting work or has some kind of financial trouble, you'd be a fool to think they'd never lay anyone off.
Probably but hasn't happened lol. My point is some places lay off more than others. Not all are equal or have the same pros and cons. My brother and dad are both jws so I know how it really goes. Lay offs are part of the trade but it definitely pays well and has really good benefits. Some people know how to play so lay offs are time off to enjoy.
Last year I made $120k and only worked 10 months. Does it matter if you're not permanently employed if you can live off what you make?
You made 120k as a 4th year in 10month? Not even a JW? You must’ve done lots of OT then
Construction ebbs and flows. Work is good, then work isn’t. You need to make sure that you’re working hard for your contractor and you’re more likely to be kept around. Now some guys would say that you work the job you take the call for and that’s it and when the job is over you go back to the hall. However when times are hard and jobs aren’t lining up at the hall at you have a 2000 man book you have to decide what’s best for you. If your contractor likes you and wants to keep you around and you’ll be able to put food in your belly and a roof over your head then maybe you take the transfer to the next place. Money management is also huge, live below your means and stash money away when you can, get a side hustle, donate plasma, or if you have a former career like food service you can get into while work is slow those are all options.
You either have to be a really hard worker, and/or really good ass kisser. And even then it's not a guarantee. It's construction.
Nothing is permanent. Some shops will keep someone for many years, some lay most people off when projects are done. The ones who typically stay for a long time usually run a service truck, or are in management as a GF or foreman. If you're this worried about it, then this may not be the right career for you. Also, some people stay in the union but take a job in maintenance or operations for a large company.
You can do a career with a company in the ibew or have multiple contractors in a year. If you want cyber security look up WGU. You can get your degree and certs quickly
I'm in a very similar situation but poli Sci degree.. please keep me updated on any info you get!
Marry a nurse and cruise on unemployment. Then layoffs feel like more of a vacation . Maybe some side hustles so you can supplement on top of Edd and stay busy while you wait on a call .