
This is the sinister way to finish housework in less than an hour. And once he started in the trades, he said, he felt a "lot more pride" in the work he was doing - and its tangible influence. Mums take their time out toofrom Facebook. "They had stability and a certain quality of life," he said.Įven going to law school, as he planned to do, might not bring that much of a payout, and it would likely come with little work-life balance.

After all, research has found that a worker without a college degree who has been in a union throughout their entire career is estimated to generally make more than their nonunion counterpart with a degree.įor Doug, the transition into being blue collar required some mental calibration, but he was drawn to the "dignity" of the tradespeople he saw in the field - especially in the middle of the brutal Great Recession. With student debt stacking up, and enrollment declining, a career in the trades - like the one Doug pursued - might hold the appeal that college once did. He said he'd consistently made a salary in the high five figures or low six figures throughout his career, alongside the benefits and pensions that union jobs afforded.Ī blue-collar career path has afforded him a home and a job with dignityĪmericans are increasingly rethinking whether college is worth it. Now, Doug has been a blue-collar worker for nearly 20 years. He ended up also accruing certification from the Coast Guard that opened him up to even more gainful work.īy 2014, after hopping into a similar blue-collar union job, he said he was clearing around $120,000 to $130,000 a year. His past technical experience had been confined to tinkering with his old Toyota trucks as a teen now, he was attending Marine engineering school and becoming certified as a qualified member of the engine department. And, as some people continue their pandemic reckoning with what work means to them, it might become even more appealing.ĭoug, for instance, found his new career lucrative compared with the hourly work he did to pay his way through school. feels notforme iquit experiencing feelings decided just isnt thank opportunity.

Blue-collar work remains a bright spot in the economic recovery, with plenty of available jobs, affordable training, more stability, and high pay. After experiencing 'feelings' I have decided that this just isn't for me but thank you for the opportunity. It's an experience that might be hitting home for some workers feeling whiplash from seeing the " Great Resignation" and rising wages turn into high-profile layoffs and threats of an AI takeover. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders.
