ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Burned out or Bored

Ever thought about a new life in San Francisco? Can you, or have you passed the Certification test? With a name like Mr. Bendy, I would hope you mean conduit, if so, I need people with those skills. And have more work than I can man at the present, through Febuary. And on average our guys rarely have less than 40 a week year round. We too have the low ballers and and others, but less dramatic due to broad customer base. Commercial slow, still have resi, and vice versa. You have to get a thicker wetsuit if you're the surfing type.

Lots of work here in Canada (Vancouver, BC area) in new construction - highrise, woodframe, commercial - you name it.

Do you have experience with PLC's? That seems to be required for mills, plants, and manufacturing facilities these days. They probably have a night class or two at your local tradeschool. I just checked at my school, and they have a hydraulics certificate and an HVAC certificate you can earn during night classes alone.

I've already seen several journeymen jump out of construction and into maintenance work, or teaching.

Also noticing more jobs wanting "dual-tickets" or "trade + other credential" - doesn't matter what the other trade/credential is, but just to thin out the applicants.

thanx for the tips guys...see ya down the road....

Mr Bendy

Just so you don't get to thinking it's only you.
Here in Illinois most of the union locals report that work is slow and will be till atleast spring. Mostly the lack of commercial and industrial big jobs are the reason. Residential is better and keeping smaller shops busy.
I think the change is around the corner (winter) here. These slow downs happen ever 10 years, but this is the longest one I've seen in my 30+ years in the trade.

Mr. Bendy

I work out of local 5 in Pittsburgh, I have worked a total of 7 weeks in 21 months.
Currently I am # 215 on the books. I have been in this field for 28 years, have never seen it this bad. I too have contemplated doing something else but I will stick with
this trade {don't feel like starting at the bottom level of another trade}.
Bottom line, if you really enjoy this trade as I do then stay with it,sooner or later it will get better.

Tons of work here in the Washington DC area.It is rather recession proof because of all the governmet jobs here. Never had a day in 23 years that I couldn't work if I wanted to.