[poolunion]

Plumbers make good money because: 1) Demand a. A lot of people have plumbing problems. b. There is shortage in skilled plumbers (especially those willing to do small jobs). 2) Perceived Value a.Working plumbing is a necessity for most people. 3)Fear a. If people toilet is leaking they are worried about damage it may cause. (Fear is one of the reasons rates for security focused IT people generally make better money) b. Most people are scared to do their own plumbing.

A couple years ago my job was outsourced. I took my severance and registered in a Carpentry course. Part of the course was building a house for Habitat for Humanity. It was a great experience and gave me skills I never had before. I can now do all of my own renovations.

I also worked in trades for a while. Trades can make you good money but not right away. When you start in trades you are a glorified janitor and treated like one. It’s very labor intensive work. In Canada it takes about 4 years of experience to get your ticket.

One of the best things I gained from my experience was the appreciation of hard work. The saying “If there is time to lean then there is time to clean” is the rule in trades. You basically have to make yourself busy at all times or you won’t have a job.