Are Gen Y too lazy too work?

[Squilliam]

mrstickball said:

As I stated, in America we have the exact opposite problem.

We have a huge demand for construction jobs by skilled people, but no one wants to do physical labor. Its a big reason as to why we have so many people crossing the border from the south: Americans are too lazy to work in a field, do construction, or other 'difficult' jobs for the wages offered, but people from other countries would beg to be paid $10-15/hr for jobs like those, so they come in-country and do the jobs either under the table or just at legality.

I don't blame them for that, its entirely our fault. I live in a very generic midwestern town. We have maybe 2 or 3 plumbers (people to do home repairs), and they are either good, and cannot do your work because they have too much to handle, or they are available and horribly lazy and don't do work right.

And its incredible that people don't do these jobs. A licensed electrician charges $40-60/hr in the US. Trade school is barely needed, as most of the skill is on-the-job training. I know this because I own an apartment complex that is having its electrical system replaced. Its insane trying to find the right people to work for you. And guess how many of them are between the ages of 18-30? Almost none. Unless they are mexican (not trying to be racist by any means, but that is the American demographic for construction work. Your either old and white or young and mexican).

 

I don't think anyone can or should bash others for wanting to do whatever job brings them joy. However, the fact is that some people will not realize their passion because the work is beneath them. I worked as a government worker as a park caretaker and had a blast doing the physical labor, but all the while, most of my friends went to college, thinking that kind of work was beneath them.

Now the friends I know that had any sort of physical labor job are in high demand, while the artsy ones are working at fast food.

 

Thats so funny. I do prefer phyiscal and tinkering type work to academic style work even though my brain is more suited for the latter than the former. Over in my country we don't have a shortage and we don't have an abundance of people in these fields, so the wages/rates are good but you can always find yourself a skilled worker. In addition to this we have trade groups like Master Electrician/Builder/Plumbers whom offer an assurance on any work done and will make things right if they are not up to standard.