This is so encouraging and wonderful. It will also make my nearly-22 yr old daughter very happy to hear. She took one look at her best friend's college debt and decided she was having none of it; she's now an apprentice pipe organ technician, learning the trade from my husband. Quoted her first solo job a few weeks ago.
I often joke that GenZ is going to save us all, but I'm not really joking.
Pipe organ technician!! What a dreamy job. Matt Crawford has a whole case study on pipe organ designers and techs in his book "The World Beyond Your Head" that convinced me I'd love to be in a pipe organ shop at some point.
I wish her all success and good things in her budding career!! She has, I think, chosen well.
Hooboy. Matthew B. Crawford is my favorite. He's an electrician, motorcycle mechanic, custom parts fabricator, and political philosopher. He's written three books and has a Substack here: https://mcrawford.substack.com/
That book is probably his most dense and will require some intellectual rigor from the reader, but it's so, so good and very worth working through.
My husband is 60. He is a heavy truck mechanic for the city. He repairs and maintains the trucks that clean out the city sewer systems. It is a very physical job. Heavy intense labor. Dirty. Messy. He does not have a helper. He is the main mechanic that does this in the city.
Holy moly! What a job. Sounds like he's got quite a bit of experience. He doesn't have a helper, but are there any young folks that work for the city? Or does he have no replacement when it comes time to retire? Seems like a waste to not have him pass on his knowledge to someone!
He keeps reminding the bosses of these things. He retires in about 4 years. He has told them that training will take more than a day as they have sent in the past a mechanic to him for only a day of training. There is a young man who he is training but not necessarily to do the type of work he does. Most of the mechanics are in their 50s and 60s. It is a gross job which is a turnoff. It is a job most people don’t think about as a career.
Have you heard of the College of St. Joseph the Worker in Steubenville, Ohio? It’s a combination trade school and liberal arts, degree-granting institution: https://www.collegeofstjoseph.com/
Great piece, Nate. I get a big smile on my face whenever Mike Rowe talks trades. He is a national treasure. And I am so excited to be a new subscriber to your Substack. Great title!
Really enjoyed reading this, thinking about going into the trades, have some older relatives that are a little skeptic, thinking: what if you go into a physically demanding trade, and initially make a good salary, but 40 years later are only making a little more and can't keep up with the work; would appreciate your thoughts
I think physical limitations and the potential for your body breaking down is definitely to be considered! Who can say what will happen in 40 years? I don't find that a convincing argument, personally, but I can understand where the response comes from. You'll have to make up your own mind, but I hope my guide can help you as you think it through.
Ohmygosh. I've been having a slight internal freakout that the trades are shrinking, so I am thrilled to hear this news!
I am so glad you are posting your good stuff again. I missed you.
That is a very kind thing for you to say, Jerry. Thank you!
This is so encouraging and wonderful. It will also make my nearly-22 yr old daughter very happy to hear. She took one look at her best friend's college debt and decided she was having none of it; she's now an apprentice pipe organ technician, learning the trade from my husband. Quoted her first solo job a few weeks ago.
I often joke that GenZ is going to save us all, but I'm not really joking.
Pipe organ technician!! What a dreamy job. Matt Crawford has a whole case study on pipe organ designers and techs in his book "The World Beyond Your Head" that convinced me I'd love to be in a pipe organ shop at some point.
I wish her all success and good things in her budding career!! She has, I think, chosen well.
And I think your intuition on Gen Z is correct.
We'll have to look up that book! I'm not familiar with it.
Hooboy. Matthew B. Crawford is my favorite. He's an electrician, motorcycle mechanic, custom parts fabricator, and political philosopher. He's written three books and has a Substack here: https://mcrawford.substack.com/
That book is probably his most dense and will require some intellectual rigor from the reader, but it's so, so good and very worth working through.
My husband is 60. He is a heavy truck mechanic for the city. He repairs and maintains the trucks that clean out the city sewer systems. It is a very physical job. Heavy intense labor. Dirty. Messy. He does not have a helper. He is the main mechanic that does this in the city.
Holy moly! What a job. Sounds like he's got quite a bit of experience. He doesn't have a helper, but are there any young folks that work for the city? Or does he have no replacement when it comes time to retire? Seems like a waste to not have him pass on his knowledge to someone!
He keeps reminding the bosses of these things. He retires in about 4 years. He has told them that training will take more than a day as they have sent in the past a mechanic to him for only a day of training. There is a young man who he is training but not necessarily to do the type of work he does. Most of the mechanics are in their 50s and 60s. It is a gross job which is a turnoff. It is a job most people don’t think about as a career.
Have you heard of the College of St. Joseph the Worker in Steubenville, Ohio? It’s a combination trade school and liberal arts, degree-granting institution: https://www.collegeofstjoseph.com/
Boy, have I! Wrote about them and a handful of other institutions that are engaged in similar work:
https://open.substack.com/pub/thebluescholar/p/a-renaissance-is-upon-us?r=29ahd9&utm_medium=ios
Great piece, Nate. I get a big smile on my face whenever Mike Rowe talks trades. He is a national treasure. And I am so excited to be a new subscriber to your Substack. Great title!
You’re so sweet, Rachel! I’m so humbled you chose to subscribe and let me take up some space in your (inundated, I’m sure) inbox. Thank you!
Mike Rowe is a real one. I’m so thankful for his consistent public presence and dedication to the trades. A national treasure, indeed!!
Really enjoyed reading this, thinking about going into the trades, have some older relatives that are a little skeptic, thinking: what if you go into a physically demanding trade, and initially make a good salary, but 40 years later are only making a little more and can't keep up with the work; would appreciate your thoughts
Isaac, forgive me for the delayed response.
I've actually written a practical guide for entering the trades here: https://thebluescholar.substack.com/p/a-practical-guide-to-entering-the
I think physical limitations and the potential for your body breaking down is definitely to be considered! Who can say what will happen in 40 years? I don't find that a convincing argument, personally, but I can understand where the response comes from. You'll have to make up your own mind, but I hope my guide can help you as you think it through.
Thanks, I'll enjoy the guide!
Nate Marshall presents evidence that more of Gen Z might be wanting to do the real work.