Ok, Ive been in electrical for 8 years now, went through the ABC in San Diego did the whole apprentice thing for 4 years. Once I got out of school...it seemed work slowed and contractors seemed pretty flaky...Im on unemployment now and seriously thinking about giving up on being electrician...way too much down time and illegals and underqualified seem to be saturating the market. I like the work...anyone know any other states that arent too overcrowded that have work? Thanx Dave

[This message has been edited by Webmaster (edited 11-21-2004).]

Plenty of work here in Massachusetts.

Plenty of work here in Rhode Island.

Plenty of work here in Connecticut.

OK, that about covers southern New England, any other takers?

Plenty of work here in Georgia.

Probably better weather in Georgia!

It seems that every electrical contractor I know is looking for good help....good help
I am in NY State.
There are always going to be unsettling situations in our business, but the grass is not any greener in other types of work either.

Pierre

Dave,

There is tons of work here in NJ too. On the down side,, there are lots of people doing side jobs that electrical people should be doing. There are off duty policeman, fireman, postal people, or a neighbor, friend, cousin, etc. who is willing to do electrical work for someone they know. The only people who lose out are the homeowners who use these unskilled people. I have seen where people use these "fly-by-nights" and then when there is a problem, they can't find "their friend" who helped them. Then they have to go out and hire a qualified electrical person to fix what the other guy screwed up. Usually it cost just as much (If not more) than what it would have cost if the EC did the work from the very begining. I have been in the electrical trade for 25 years now and I have see them all come and go. When times are good, everyone is doing the construction work. When times get bad onlt the good guys will remain. The tough times weed out the bad guys. Our trade is not a real eas trade. (Although plumbers used to always kid me about that.) We did not have to carry heavy tubs etc. However it takes a little more knowledge to figure out circuitry, the NEC, and how to trouble shoot electrical circuits. ( Please plumbers don't e-mail me. Some of my bestfriends are plumbers. )

Mr. Bendy,
Do I know you? I'm in the same boat but don't worry about it. The business here is very cyclical. Everything shuts down and nothing is started during the winter here because of the snow and constant rains and mud storms. Always get laid off the day before Thanksgiving. Enjoy your holiday.
Get your license.
You must have had a course by Gary Wood or George Stout?
Peter

Shortage of electicians here in VT/NH. too.Licensed guys can have no problem finding work at good pay.

I was at a crossroads at about the 8 year point too,thought about changing fields, glad I didn't.
Best of luck to you.

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.