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"Trades" workers can only be a Small segment of American workers. The main core of workers is industry, but oh, that's been shipped to communist Chyna.
How are the opportunities when most the jobs available don't pay enough for the average american to survive, pay rent and cost of living so this whole video makes no sense and is just a waste of time. Tell them to lower cost of living and maybe those labour jobs will be enough.
The American dream is dying because the country is no longer enforcing monopoly and immigration law. Deport the illegal laborers and break up the big corporations.
@@stephenscering1776 Good analogy! Mechanics are like dentists. The visit will be painful (in the case of a dentists, not just financially). People should recognize the pain of postponing or avoiding a necessary visit will be so much worse.
Schools took away shop,art and home economics classes! This, in my opinion,was the beginning of the decline! Bring back the arts and creative classes!! Not all children belong in a 4-year college program . I was much better suited for a trade skill and I’ve been gainfully employed for 36 years with zero debt after graduation!
@design2c436 In European pre-college schools, there is physical education only; NO TEAM SPORTS between schools. We need to stop school bank-rolled team sports that pander to the mental laziness of your average school "jock" and let cities and parents supporter groups do this ! The way we are doing it now in the US is a tremendous disservice to ALL students especially to those who play team sports. How aboutshifting emphasis and making the most important "Dports" Team A CKMPETAYIVE INTERINSTUYIKNAL CHESS TEAM ! Better would be to require ALL team athletes to take AP CHEMISTRY, TRACK C PHYSICS, COLLEGE-LEVEL CALCULUS and DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS while earning a MINIMUM GRADE OF "B" .
@@aschuyler26 If they teach people skills and don’t demand college, the politicians and schools can’t get more rich. Strap everyone with debt, teach them ti hate the US, graduate with no skills, then have the taxpayers pay the school debt. Welcome to the takeover.
@@aschuyler26 yeah I can’t believe they did that, I wish they would add welding and would have loved to learn to weld in high school. It would have really added value to my life.
He, like stossel, started on something and learned along the way the issues with the basic ideas are problematic then pushing back on the massive standard government or educational systematic push. Brilliant men!
How are the opportunities when most the jobs available don't pay enough for the average american to survive, pay rent and cost of living so this whole video makes no sense and is just a waste of time. Tell them to lower cost of living and maybe those labour jobs will be enough. Reply
@@TankMAIN877 That is only true for those jobs you don't need a degree or a trade school education for. Not all jobs. The trades are the smarter way to go where you can spend less on an education and make way more.
The fact that Mike Rowe is joining Phil McGraw on this new media network gives me more hope I’ve had in years 🙌🌎. I’m heading off to work right now in the best mood!! Thank you so much gentlemen!!!!!!!!
My stepson has an IQ of 68. He loves working with his hands doing trade work. His high-school insisted on giving him college prep classes instead of vocational training and he was frustrated and acting out in school. When I tried talk to the school about it I was told to "stop being negative, it's hurting his education." He's now working as a mechanics apprentice and happy with his work. Schools are a scam these days.
When I went to school there was a separate school some kids went to after coming into our normal public school. They got back on a bus and went to BOCES. There they offered stuff like hair and beauty, cooking, mechanics, autobody, diesel mechanics, forestry sure there was others but that is stuff I know they offered. Actually I am pretty sure it still exists just this was in the 90s I was in high school. The friends I had that went there got apprentice jobs senior year.
If your iq is not 110+ dont bother w college. Mine is 135 so w 10 years schooling im making bank now 10 years of work exp., but its not much better than being a plumber 20 years and investing early.
@@user-tl5yb1jy7cNot true! Remember in school your only job is to learn. Anyone with the right amount of time, dedication, and classes can prepare themselves!
My husband is a welder. Supposedly we are short on welders but everywhere that says they are hiring never hires anyone! They post online and put out signs but they have had signs/ads up forever and obviously people have applied but they don’t get hired. And then we sit and complain that people need work and places need employees. But they aren’t actually hiring! It’s so frustrating.
I’m a welder fabricator and there is jobs everywhere you can walk into if you can weld. They don’t pay good or worth your time it’s entry level stuff best to start your own or get with union. Union 30-60 hr I make 160 - 180 hr basically but I build service and inspect overhead cranes very nesh but that’s why it pays take along time to know the ends and outs I was fast took 2 years but I work with people it’s been over 10 years and they can only do one part of the job it’s ether there or it’s not really you can’t teach if they dint have it they don’t have it really weird not like other jobs you have to have a artist kinda skill to by high level welder and trusted peoples lives in the stuff you build.
You know why, because the pay isn't high enough. The pay must be high enough for a person to afford a house, a car, health care, food, schooling, much much more. Which imho requires 75k
All the job I see for welder pay around $15 an hr. Now worth ruining your eye sight and knees for. You got to ask yourself, if employers can offer such low pay, is there really a shortage?
I take a lot of pride being a tradesman , transforming peoples homes changes their lives so it’s a nice sense of accomplishment because you’re working hard and helping people
I'm Gen Z. I've worked with my hands since I was about 12 years old. I bought my first house last year. I've replumbed, rewired, torn down walls, hung drywall, and rebuilt my kitchen, including replacing it's subfloor. I made my home my dream home. I work around kids my age who don't know how to use a drill or a wrench. I feel like an old lonesome soul in my generation for sure. My actual profession is IT. It's a shame my generation doesn't use technology as a learning tool, instead of a gateway to social media spaces. The American Dream can still be accomplished, I'm living proof. I'm also a 6 year military Veteran, without a degree. I have had no financial help whatsoever, like many young people believe you have to have. As long as you work hard for what you have, you can accomplish your dreams Edit: To the nay sayers in the comment section, I do not receive a paycheck from being in the service. I did my time and that's it. My income is strictly from my current job. I don't understand why people think once you have served your country of your own free will, the government is entitled to give you a hand out for the rest of your life, that's not true whatsoever. I'm not disabled... Also I work IT, something the military DID NOT TRAIN me to do. I got certified on my own after I got out. I worked as a janitor until I got certified. Luck has nothing to do with it. You have to work hard and believe in yourself and have a positive attitude, and make good choices
👏 Good for you! I know it sucks feeling like you're alone. You're not so. There are a lot of people who resonate with you as long as you don't care about age/ "generation". It's about who you are as a person and who you resonate with.
You're very blessed to have those skills & attitude. Time to mentor those who do not have your knowledge. Not everyone knows how due to learning differences.
@@WalkingHeadProin some states he wouldn’t have to pay property taxes if he’s disabled through the military (usually 100% though). Have fun paying your landlord’s property taxes and insurance though
I served my country and after I got out I started college at a 4 year school and quickly realized it wasn't for me. I switched to a tech school and now have a very satisfying career fixing medical equipment.
I work 40+ hours at a school district doing maintenence work with my hands. I'm in my mid 30s and the American dream is absolutely dead. I'll never own my own home while paying overpriced rent. If I would have been born in the 60s or 70s I'd have a house, a boat, a family ect. To say it's not dead means your in denial or you've already reached the dream and shame on anyone else who hasn't. Basic arithmetic can prove it's dead. Income- Basic Necessities= your net worth. I make $2,000 a month. Subtract that from my rent, gas, electric, water, groceries, pet food, toiletries ect and im left with about $50 left over every month. We can't fix what we didn't break with no tools provided.
We did break it.... And the fix is easy..... Quit ARTIFICIALLY propping up women. That one simple step will allow this problem to fix itself in time.....
You do have valuable skills but work for a entity that won’t pay well for them. Some like predictable life with easy days, health insurance and retirement plan. Entrepreneurship is riskier but pays 3-4x what others will pay you being a employee. I’ve only worked trades both as employee and self employed. Once established being self employed is way more profitable. But you have to work hard since it’s by the job not hourly. If you have the motivation start doing handyman or housekeeping on the side. If you are honest, do good work and professional it can easily grow to the point you will be having to decide keep the school job or go independent full time.
When my son was in middle school & they pushed college. I sat in that meeting & said - well - I don’t have a college education but I also have no student loans, no high credit card debt, my FICO is in the 800+ range, no car payment at the time and have a home. You can be successful with or without a college education. And to this day - I feel like a millionaire with my no debt before retirement plan - that’s more than I can say for most. College is not for everyone & you can still be successful if you have a plan in place.
I feel like a big part of the population is ignored, male adults between 40-50 roughly. There are a lot of these people who would be exited to learn a trade but because of their age are overlooked. It’s always focused on kids which is understandable but there are more people besides the kids who a lot of times are too young to know what they want to do and large amounts of scholarships are wasted on them.
Some people like myself also end up with complicated family living situations so early in life where one is a primary caretaker/provider or similar...Family lived remote because it was affordable, but also so poor I didn't have a way to get a car or job reliably...took a couple years to get a job, but once I did I've since done everything to escape that life of brokeness & poverty. All of it is completely different for me 18 years later.
How are the opportunities when most the jobs available don't pay enough for the average american to survive, pay rent and cost of living so this whole video makes no sense and is just a waste of time. Tell them to lower cost of living and maybe those labour jobs will be enough. Reply
You might want to add voices like Ron Paul, Thomas Sowell, Patrick Bet-David and a quite a few others to your list. We have some brilliant Americans, both naturalized and natural born, offering brilliant ideas we should be paying attention to instead of tuning into MSM, whose main goal is to keep the people divided by telling us what we do, think, and who we should be.
My husband is blue collar and so am I. We need more highlight on common availability jobs in our communities and what training is actually required. Heavy Equipment and Ag Equipment operators and mechanics. Field mechanics especially. It is attainable and a great career. Mike has visited our local vo-tech college to help and it was great.
Also, most trades people don't stay as wrench turner for life. They have to start a buisness, hire people, payroll, train employees. These are all separate skills that most trades people don't have and have to learn on top of their trade.
People do these jobs and drink soda and energy drinks and eat fast food and bathe in radiation 24/7. Americans need to stop living a lifestyle that doesn't support the body's natural regeneration processes.
You have to admit, it's hard to outsource plumbers and electricians. Every community college in America should dig up a syllabus from high schools from 60-70 years ago and check out the practical things our children were learning. Things like shop, home education, welding, etc., then compare today's syllabuses. Thank God people like Mike & Dr. Phill are bringing this topic to the forefront. Our kids could have good solid futures if they have real job skills.
Much respect to Dr. Phil for taking the chance with Merit Street Media and investing his time and resources to create a media platform with honest respectful dialogue about real issues. He's a figure head from the mainstream media complex and could have comfortably stayed there. But MSM has become so bought and phony, gaslighting, fear mongering, straw manning and leaving out important information, and just ignoring topics all together. Which is why they are rotting away. So I appreciate Dr. Phil saying lets look closer, lets have these conversations and maybe examining issues that others might be missing.
Plumber, mechanic, electrician. Are solid. There are so many people I deal with today that are incapable of fixing it. Everyone is wearing pajamas to work😅
just ask any elite like dr phil to change their career. oh right we know he won't because those jobs are not worth it. is dr phil sending his kids to trade school?
I could not love this more!! Mike Rowe is changing the country for the better!! My son in law drives heavy equipment in a mine ($32 an hour) & he just got a better job driving the same heavy equipment above ground ($45 an hour!) The interviewer asked if he knew anyone else wanting a job because they can't find help.
Big problem with society is like during this hurricane, I'm in Beaumont, texas close to Houston. . My neighbor bragged about his 2k dollar tablet and I'm humble and have less tech gear but a generator. Now techie neighbor has no power or ac and crys for help. The price of the tablet would of purchased 4 generators. Americans have been breed to purchase without thought and not think towards the future.
I rather enjoy my minor's light and a good book when the power goes out. I also think our of our Pioneering Forefather's and wonder what they'd think of their offspring, living in today's world with all of our luxuries? I suspect they'd be embarrassed to call us kin.
@marcyking461 yah but with 100 degree days and 85 degree nights. Toss mosquitos in that mix....Meh.... no thanks to that. Plus the deep freezer and fridge keep cool as well.
@@davidwier2862 My point is that most of us don't realize how well we got it, until we don't got it. When things get tough, I try to remember that man with no feet. A generator is nice and a Godsend, but there was a time when they didn't exist and man managed to survive anyway. Go figure.
Thank you very much for this conversion. Anybody can be a doctor or an attorney. Those white collar jobs, that’s basically all they know. One thing. Blue collar workers are what makes America America. Those blue collar workers usually are able to do a lot of different jobs. 🇺🇸🙏🏻 Through Covid we saw that, we NEED ALL PEOPLE. ALL.
I pulled my autistic son out of school because one of the things they were doing him was interrupting what he was doing 6-8 times a day. So he would learn to deal with it. He wanted to finish his assignment & they wouldn't let him. He was acting out from frustration. They were teaching him to do things halfassed
I do understand, but its also important to teach people do complete things within a reasonable time frame. The problem is, it’s hard when incompetent teachers don’t understand what is a reasonable amount of work within a certain time frame. It’s a really hard balance to regulate, and you’re right that if work distribution is in the hands of an incompetent teacher, it will have a detrimental affect on the kid.
As a young adult that is on the spectrum myself it can be our biggest supper power and it can be are biggest destroyer unfortunately society looks at us as "different" when in all reality there is no normal we are all human ❤️
@@NSTLgngSay it again louder for the people in the back!!!!!! I love teachers, but they are incredibly clueless when it comes to giving kids work!!!!!
I got my degrees in physics and mechanical engineering. I started my career in a national scientific laboratory in 1982. In the first hour of starting that job my supervisor, a physics PhD, walked me to the machine shop and told/advised me to treat these people with respect because they were talented and could make or break your career. For the next 30 years, even after I became a supervisor and group leader, I kept going to the shops myself to interact with these valued colleagues. It as one of the things I enjoyed most in my job.
When my daughter visited LA schools at age 13 (on a school trip from Australia) - she was surprised when the kids in 3 different schools were on their phones in class and not listening to the lessons. It distressed her...the long term outcomes for those kids.
Imo this argument is not about the job, but the cost of living, houses and other basics. It's the classic cost of a house in ratio to the avg income, the difference in generations is massive. Not to mention older generations are also feeling the pinch so they cant help their children like they used to. The middle class is dead
It is simply a pay issue. I used to be a mechanic but why would I use 30k in tools I had to buy to make $40k a year because labor times are so bad now. My toolbox has wheels and they helped me wheel them 30k worth of tools back to my garage at my house. I got a job in IT making twice what I did as a mechanic without having to spend a single dollar on tools.
First of all, I'd have to see receipts to believe you paid 30k for tools. I'm an industrial maintenance mechanic, and don't have half that much in tools .. secondly, if you're a good mechanic working for 40k a yr. that's your fault.
Almost every job i can find has a revolving door of new hires, they use temp agencies, and once you are eligible for a few raises, they try to figure out how to fire you or run you out. I have worked places that werent even giving raises or training you on a new job, they just had the same guys on the same machine for 5+ years. The best jobs i can find offer zero chance of turning it into a career. I have never been able to afford insurance, and hardly ever buy groceries. I cry at the thought of how I am going to pay bills next month sometimes. If you work 'too hard' you are only criticized and NEVER shown appreciation. This country is PATHETIC. The people are LAZY. And NO ONE CARES.
I don't think the question is about jobs or even college, though those are part of the problem. It's when the middle class has been systematically eliminated and continues to be attacked by government/billionaires. It's never been harder to take care of a family and/or buy a house. Even if someone argues "work harder", there's very little upward momentum. We've also cultivated a society that rewards hard workers with more work and less pay.
I think about the parents in the 50's wanting their children to have better lives; not live through deadly disease, a nation in financial collapse, World Wars, etc. Somehow, their grandchildren are mired in materialism and fatalism.
I was fortunate enough to have parents who'd gone through the Great Depression and they knew how to survive, garden, fix things ... be self-sufficient and frugal. They taught us to count our blessings and believe in ourselves. I tried to pass those gifts onto my own children, but somewhere along the way, being a working mother, a little of the luster got lost, and I'm seeing more luster fade in my grandchildren as the rat race changes, and the families of my childhood no longer take time to sit down and dine together or talk to each other face-to-face. Progress is a bittersweet reality that is robbing the people of their identities and families of time spent together.
Problem is most trades unless owning your own company or a contractor and dictate your rates then most companies pay employees trash wages. Why bust your tail for $15/hr 12hr days when you can make more stocking shelves. Start your own company learn a trade.
It's really true what's being said here, because nowadays especially in the younger generation they do not want to get a real job that requires physical labor, they want to become UA-cam influencers or go out and just make UA-cam videos or tik Tok videos, that doesn't require a whole lot of thinking or knowledge, I mean if you can take a picture or video then you're good to go! From my 8th grade year until I graduated from the 12th grade in high school I took a woodshop class and I learned how to do framing and building houses or sheds and even furniture, and to this day I still use those skills for my benefit, and I love it just as much now as I did way back then and I am 62 years old! 👍👍👍
That’s the thing. Even if you don’t pursue a career in construction, you can save a fortune in home repairs and remodeling costs. I view it as part of being a competent man.
@@jpjp3873 It's not debatable, it's a fact Doing "blue collar" jobs like these are extremely underpaid, they take a physical toll on your body and due to the fact that you strain your body you aren't able to get ACTUAL exercise or go to the gym, you instead work your body and damage it doing work that is paid less than any desk job in existence.
as a man, having had a good trade, I found what he needs is a good woman that is skilled in managing a basic household, my Lady was multi-talented and the talent she had was learned in home economics and she was very good at it. Basically, in my home I earned the $$ did the chores around and some in the home, it's almost like running a successful business, the best person for each job does the job. In our case we had no challenges in regards of who does what. Teamwork with Love.
You think they won't look the job up and see people in them doing it full time and Struggle just to pay a few bills and have to do side jobs just to Barely make it .
Yep, they also pulled American History, which is not the same thing as U.S. History (two different jurisdictions, two different political stances, and we are 'subject to' two different types of L(land)A(air)W(water)s; Common Law (L) or Statutory Law (A&W) ... which is a REAL BIG DEAL since the law of the land (Common Law) applies to living men & women, and Statutory Law applies to fictions, which incudes corporation such as U.S. citizens (they don't teach you that in school, do they?), CIVICS, Home Economics, and God only knows what else. On the other hand, we now have Drag Queen Story Hour for our preschoolers and 'Gender Study' Diplomas for our College Graduates. Who needs to connect with our natural roots when we can be their Corporate Slaves, which is another reason they'd love nothing more than for you to mark 'X' as your gender on your birth certificate --- the equivalent of being lost at sea for eternity?
In the 90s one could work a regular job and afford a basic apartment utilities and food today you’d need to work 4 jobs. What’s needed is a living wage predicated on the cost of living. I don’t believe they will ever do it.
Mike Rowe is a genius. He showed the world that it's the average ordinary person that goes to work everyday, that the people that makes the world turn. Their the ones that make everyday life possible! Thank you Mike, from one of those people.
I have Worked 37 years same field. Paycheck to paycheck. I have nothing to show for it, except a body in pain and nothing to retire on. Own nothing! Thanks to the cost of living. I am living the American nightmare!
A clerk at the local Lowes impressed me time and again with her willingness to go beyond the basics. I suggested she consider applying at the Big Company where my family works. The Big Company HR people would not let her through the filters. Regardless of experience, capacity, or personal recommendations, she was a no-go because she lacks a college degree. If she had a BA in Underwater Basket Weaving, she'd be in. It's a sad state of affairs.
Case in point: We stopped at a gas station to help what appeared to be a distraught lady with a flat tire. Her 18 year old boy steps out of the car. I asked him why he wasnt helping his Mom change the tire. "I Dont Know!", standard answer nowadays. I said no problem, my 12 year old daughter will get you started and show you how. After the first bolt was removed he continued to stand there like a lump of broccoli. He expected us to finish it for him. Told Mom flat out, you better work on your son before its too late and he is 40 years old sleeping in her basement.
I am almost 80 when ever l work with my hands... electrical plumbing construction....the youngest among us drift off sit and watch a screen or just disappear.... that's not true they do return for lunch or dinner
Yeah cause if he learns how to change a tire suddenly that will reverse 60yrs of failed economic/social trends and he'll be able to get a traditional wife with the white picket fence. NOT. It's not 2004 anymore, everything costs 2-3x as much with the same wages. You can't fault boys for not wanting to be traditional when you didn't exactly bring them into a traditional world at all. Conservatives lost the battle in America which is ironic cause you'd think the tougher ones would come out ahead like you say. What really happened is while sitting in your rocking chair watching Fox News you let liberals quietly take this country under your nose and did nothing to stop it except teach your daughter how to change a tire. You can continue to live in delusion in your Gen X/Boomer head but all you gotta do is look around at the purple haired combative women to realize society took away boys primary motivation to succeed.
This is not just an American issue. I can build your home, from the bricks to the beams, to the plaster to the plumbing to the electrics, to the furniture, fix your car, motorcycle, boat, design, weld, machine, code micro-controllers to desktop and mobile apps to whatever. But now at 55 I am dumbfounded that less and less and less of the younger folk can do what I did before I was the age of 18. They have seen everything via a screen and know everything but have yet done something close to nothing in terms of actual hands-on work. Still I remain optimistic that culture/society will catch up. Mike has the experience and is the voice/vision of an important topic that needs to be addressed.
Can they afford to buy land close enough to the jobs to build a house without inheriting it? The only way you could possible learn all that before 18 is your dad was a contractor and taught you all those skills. Most people don't have that luxury.
I live on my sailboat, I have my mini welder and my plumbing tools with me. My yearly cost of living is down to $3500 including everything. I can make, if needed, that amount on one job. I can charge 4 times more than before, people are desperate. But I'm not taking any jobs, I retired 13 years ago when I realized that there is no wife's to marry. Now I'm 53 and I just wanna sail, fish and watch the world burn.
I haven’t watched the video but I can say that the American dream is not dead but it on life support and will likely pass very soon. Don’t let your 2A go, it’s the only thing we have left.
Some of this is bs. I've applied to some trades as an apprentice, and most jobs want at 2 or more years experience. No one wants to train anymore, and if you do get in somewhere, there's politics and the good ole boy system you have to deal with.
degreed applicants get discriminated against for applying to labor jobs....cant even get an interview for lowes warehouse...because im over educated....apparently
It’s just an excuse for them. For whatever reason they decided you weren’t a fit. Lowe’s is a retail job anyway. Go look into an apprenticeship program in electrical or mechanical trades.
I am in that situation: have degree in physics, can't get drab jobs to jumpstart my entry into workforce and can't get any trade jobs and can't get any jobs in my fields (alternative energy math etc.)
Because the problem is, they don't pay a cost of living at all. They are not meeting the standard where people can live on it because there is no respect anymore.
I am 73 years old, comfortably retired, and better off than 90% of Americans. My daughter (47) is a millionaire and my eldest granddaughter (32) is a millionaire and building. We have GEDs, it would be a mistake to think we are poorly educated. We possess marketable skills. A little smart and a lot of work NEVER fails. Note: About half my time spent in a classroom was wasted. Our public school system is failing our youth.
I have worked in the trades since 1975 as a carpenter , moved along and went onto contracting and building, I have always enjoyed the hard work . One major point i wanna make is the weather , Ive worked in 100 degree heat and 0 degree frigid cold for hours on end. I have to say some days were absolute agony being outside. So for all of you who think you wanna work in the building trades, you better be prepared to handle those weather conditions . The extremes are brutal , cant just go home , no work no pay , ya gotta hack it
45 too young for broken body. Hope you get the healing you deserve. Like what the other commenter said young but many others have similar stories and behind the 8-ball for opportunities.
@@benb3799 meningitis, worst case seen in 70 years that survived. I had no idea my body would do that so I worked like normal, hard. It's much better now. I give care to people that need it.
I worked in skilled trade my whole adult life. Now in sales. We cannot find any younger males with any good skills at all. They all want 30 hour and can't change a light bulb. They also dont want to work more than 8 hours a day. We as a country are doomed.
The American dream is what you put in and how smart you are as an individual. I get up at 5am every day, work till 5:30, cook my own food within 30-40 mins, have a demand and high paid job with unbeatable benefits with zero student dent. Anyone can do it but do they? In most cases…..nope! Everyone wants to work in the A/C, get up late, have a high paid job with little to no effort, and wants everything handed to them. That doesn’t exist. People need to learn to invest their time better to get their dream or it’s going to be a nightmare.
@@bluebirdgramma6317 Yup. They wonder why things aren’t going well and why everything sucks. You have to work hard to succeed. I’m not saying you have to work 80 hours a week but individuals have to sacrifice and compensate which they refuse to but the choice is theirs. I killed myself making what I do now but I have options now since in the labor sector NO ONE wants to physically work. It’s absolutely insane. Even when they’re offering 6 figures a year….they still won’t do it. Getting up at 5am has your average gen Z panicking and scared to death. Old age and retirement comes one way or the other. Most will never retire, very sad.
As a millennial, truck driver since 2009, i wouldnt encourage anyone to ever throw their life away to do this job like i did. I pray this all colapses soon. Not for me but my children. I would rather we build and start new than keep this all going
@jpjp3873 you make it sound so easy I can't understand why anyone anywhere is struggling... My brother is an engineer working on the ICBM 2 miniuiteman, we're in the same tax bracket. Whats your grand suggestion?
@@2pink1stink my brother in law was a forklift driver at a winery and at 40 years old went back to community college and became a nurse. No loans necessary. You have options. Don’t be discouraged.
I absolutely agree, the american dream is dead. I worked for a medical staffing company with a good job that I liked, and was very important. I was laid off unfortunatley, along with almost 1000 other people over the last year so the company could hire overseas Indian remote workers for dollars a day. Truely sad. You cant really get very far in the middle class anymore.
Personally myself, Dr. Phil, I think they should put them back in schools put mechanics back in school home economics back in school when I was going to school. The boys would work on the cars in the back young ladies would learn to cook in the kitchen home economics,,,, That way the girls learn to cook and do crafty things. Also put sports back in schools. They’re taking them out and you gotta pay to go now to put your kids in a sporting event. It’s ridiculous. This is upside down.
Mechanics and shops should be elective courses, and it should depend on what the man wants to do with his life; not every guy aspires to be a carpenter/plumber/welder/tool dye maker/whatever blue collar career is out there. Plus, think of the adult men who are physically disabled from birth (men like me, Cerebral Palsy here.) These are the careers in which you need to be in good physical shape to succeed in, and what if that man is prone to accidents? The man who can't succeed as a carpenter/craftsman may instead find he's an excellent chef/caterer/party planner. We could use more people in the hospitality industry.
We need skills schools they are scarce and that is what America was brought up on was people working owning businesses run by family and inherited on through the family line... Plumbers, air and heating, mechanics, electrical, masons, carpentry, etc... this is what America is about
I laugh all the way to the bank today , cause my drafting job in construction was eliminated. But I learned how things went together and moved to the hands on part .
I loved watching Mike Rowe on dirty jobs. He taught me how we are all connected and how each one of us play an important role in this world. And how to be thankful for those who do these jobs you had no idea even existed. Not only did he visit and interview them- he would learn and perform the job!
Excited for this new team up, love Dr. Phil and Mike Rowe, I've watched them both since about 2005 when Dirty Jobs was big. Something they don't touch on is a lot of those 10 million positions pay $15 an hour. The reason a lot of my generation (90s kids) have moved to tech and IT is because you have to make $120k a year just to get by these days. I worked in construction for 3 years and loved working with my hands and being outside but it didn't pay the bills, so I had to adapt with the economy, trends, and inflation. My dad used to get by making $15 an hour building bridges in the 80s and 90s, but thats not even close to a living wage anymore. Feels like $20 an hour is bare minimum wage to get by, and I live in a relatively cheap COL area in NC. I can't imagine living in a more expensive state like Colorado or California making that.
Pay people more for trade jobs, stop complaining that the gap is growing when a lot of the contractors know they are heavily underpaying their current trade workers, pay people more and the gap will close.
Workman’s compensation insurance should be shown as a deduction on the pay stub. They should also see the employer match on SS. The employer side of Medicare and unemployment insurance both state and federal. Employees should see the costs of osha compliance. EPA compliance. Etc. And yes I think they should be paid more.
I don’t know why this channel continues to show up on my feed. I’m not sure what it is but just the sound of the Dr’s voice gives me a massive headache but Mike is the man!
The only answer anyone has is work harder, work more, give more of your life away in the pursuit of the material. What a depressing philosophy that is.
A plumber might be able to make 6 figures but certainly not easy, maybe with a fair amount of overtime. I’ve been in the building trades for 29 years and have always taken nearly all the overtime ever offered and have never come close to 6 figures
@@GoogleMe-en9sg I’m union in Indianapolis Indiana, I’ve never cleared $80k. This year will probably be the first time in my career but I’ve worked overtime the whole year so far
Depends on where you live. In California, union tradesmen easily make over six figures. But it very expensive to live there. There are places with a good balance. You may have to move. Edit: never mind, I realized you said you already had 29 years in. Probably too late.
Our high schools here have classes to teach blue color jobs like Body Tech, Electrician, etc. The company I work for hires those interested in the auto collision industry straight from high school, give the tools, and get them going.
The problem with construction here in the bay area is it can take 2 hours to drive 30 miles. And for some you don't get paid till your at the jobsite which can be different everyday. So an 8 hour workday turns into 12+ hours a day with the commute. Many of these workers drink alcohol and smoke marijuana to cope with the stress. Others that go to the gym sleep like 5 hours a night which can't be good for the body long term. And when your shift is over your too tired to go out and do anything so part of your life suffers from not enough leisure activities. I had a sense of accomplishment learning some of the trades but over time I burned out and couldn't motivate myself to do the work. For me working local without a commute 4 days a week is ideal.
I make 6 figures, my wife makes almost 6 figures and live in cheapest area in the country and we are still fuxed. It's ridiculous. The food prices and gas prices and to buy decent vehicles and pay for kids college, etc FUXING killing me.
Medical bills? Child support? Credit card debt? Something doesn’t add up otherwise. Nearly 200,000 a year should definitely get you by in the cheapest area of the country.
I call BS. My wife and I make about $140,000 combined and we have two in college and we're overwhelmingly blessed. It's all about living within your means.
Trades are not lucrative if you work for a company. And starting your own company is not for everyone. The trades are FAR too romanticized. And I'm a career carpenter
Watch the other part of this episode on the Merit Street Media youtube channel: ua-cam.com/video/xSEbJUT-fBg/v-deo.html
Subscribe to the Merit Street Media channel: www.youtube.com/@MeritStreetMedia?sub_confirmation=1
👍🏾💯
"Trades" workers can only be a Small segment of American workers. The main core of workers is industry, but oh, that's been shipped to communist Chyna.
We'll be right back...
How are the opportunities when most the jobs available don't pay enough for the average american to survive, pay rent and cost of living so this whole video makes no sense and is just a waste of time. Tell them to lower cost of living and maybe those labour jobs will be enough.
The American dream is dying because the country is no longer enforcing monopoly and immigration law.
Deport the illegal laborers and break up the big corporations.
Dr. Phil has been doing great interviews recently! Keep up the good work, Sir!
Yeah bringing out the truth
Next we need ari shaffir!
Yup !
I agree. Great content in his new channel. Dr Phil is covering issues the rest of the media has ignored for too long.
@@jacobchapman9803you see him on Tucker?
Everyone owns a car. All cars break down. Mechanics get no mention. We keep you all rolling. I love Mike promoting the trades, solidarity baby!
Unfortunately people think of mechanics like the dentist!
@@stephenscering1776 Good analogy! Mechanics are like dentists. The visit will be painful (in the case of a dentists, not just financially). People should recognize the pain of postponing or avoiding a necessary visit will be so much worse.
Actually electric cars are going to make mechanics obsolete more and more
this comment is like saying to the gulf cart built the gulf cores kind of a joke the electric car
Thank you for fixing our cars. You're right about that.
Schools took away shop,art and home economics classes! This, in my opinion,was the beginning of the decline! Bring back the arts and creative classes!! Not all children belong in a 4-year college program . I was much better suited for a trade skill and I’ve been gainfully employed for 36 years with zero debt after graduation!
It is not the removal of shop and manual skills. America needs it all. It is the way the BEA is systematically DESTROYING our educational system !
@design2c436 In European pre-college schools, there is physical education only; NO TEAM SPORTS between schools. We need to stop school bank-rolled team sports that pander to the mental laziness of your average school "jock" and let cities and parents supporter groups do this ! The way we are doing it now in the US is a tremendous disservice to ALL students especially to those who play team sports. How aboutshifting emphasis and making the most important "Dports" Team A CKMPETAYIVE INTERINSTUYIKNAL CHESS TEAM ! Better would be to require ALL team athletes to take AP CHEMISTRY, TRACK C PHYSICS, COLLEGE-LEVEL CALCULUS and DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS while earning a MINIMUM GRADE OF "B" .
Disagree about art. Art produces nothing.
@@aschuyler26 If they teach people skills and don’t demand college, the politicians and schools can’t get more rich. Strap everyone with debt, teach them ti hate the US, graduate with no skills, then have the taxpayers pay the school debt. Welcome to the takeover.
@@aschuyler26 yeah I can’t believe they did that, I wish they would add welding and would have loved to learn to weld in high school. It would have really added value to my life.
Mike Rowe is a great American. He hits the nail on the head. He is absolutely doing something that is going to make a difference.
@martyhabada6980 the evidence shows its not though unfortunately
I am all for Mike Rowe.
He knows what this country needs,and he is doing a great job of helping make it happen!!!!!!
He, like stossel, started on something and learned along the way the issues with the basic ideas are problematic then pushing back on the massive standard government or educational systematic push. Brilliant men!
Teaming up with Kenndy on some ideas would be great and even a more powerful source. Mike is a great man.
"[H]its the nail on the head?" 😂 pun intended? 😂😂😂
If I was young again, I would jump on this in a heartbeat. Go for it, you young people ! You will never regret the move.
I tried. No one wanted me because I was female. And it's sad because I was really strong back then and could have done it!
How are the opportunities when most the jobs available don't pay enough for the average american to survive, pay rent and cost of living so this whole video makes no sense and is just a waste of time. Tell them to lower cost of living and maybe those labour jobs will be enough.
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I'd like to see you carry shingles up a ladder for 8 hours and say that again.
@luke-wu6hq Well no one said it was fun!
@@TankMAIN877 That is only true for those jobs you don't need a degree or a trade school education for. Not all jobs. The trades are the smarter way to go where you can spend less on an education and make way more.
If the American dream is living paycheck to paycheck and working until you're dead, then yes, it's still alive.
It's all it ever was.
It's better than being stranded in the desert as some would say.
That's life for 90% of the population on earth. Welcome to reality.
@@mikko-of6cu why accept that...
@@ValenceFluxoh how I wish most understood your comment!
The fact that Mike Rowe is joining Phil McGraw on this new media network gives me more hope I’ve had in years 🙌🌎. I’m heading off to work right now in the best mood!!
Thank you so much gentlemen!!!!!!!!
My stepson has an IQ of 68. He loves working with his hands doing trade work. His high-school insisted on giving him college prep classes instead of vocational training and he was frustrated and acting out in school. When I tried talk to the school about it I was told to "stop being negative, it's hurting his education." He's now working as a mechanics apprentice and happy with his work. Schools are a scam these days.
Im so glad to hear that he found something he excels at! That's the goal for all our kids!
When I went to school there was a separate school some kids went to after coming into our normal public school. They got back on a bus and went to BOCES. There they offered stuff like hair and beauty, cooking, mechanics, autobody, diesel mechanics, forestry sure there was others but that is stuff I know they offered. Actually I am pretty sure it still exists just this was in the 90s I was in high school. The friends I had that went there got apprentice jobs senior year.
If your iq is not 110+ dont bother w college. Mine is 135 so w 10 years schooling im making bank now 10 years of work exp., but its not much better than being a plumber 20 years and investing early.
Amazing get him into welding ❤
@@user-tl5yb1jy7cNot true! Remember in school your only job is to learn. Anyone with the right amount of time, dedication, and classes can prepare themselves!
My husband is a welder. Supposedly we are short on welders but everywhere that says they are hiring never hires anyone! They post online and put out signs but they have had signs/ads up forever and obviously people have applied but they don’t get hired. And then we sit and complain that people need work and places need employees. But they aren’t actually hiring! It’s so frustrating.
I suffered the same experience in IT. Companies complain about a shortage, advertise for positions but never hire. Go figure.
Y’all are the wrong color
I’m a welder fabricator and there is jobs everywhere you can walk into if you can weld. They don’t pay good or worth your time it’s entry level stuff best to start your own or get with union. Union 30-60 hr I make 160 - 180 hr basically but I build service and inspect overhead cranes very nesh but that’s why it pays take along time to know the ends and outs I was fast took 2 years but I work with people it’s been over 10 years and they can only do one part of the job it’s ether there or it’s not really you can’t teach if they dint have it they don’t have it really weird not like other jobs you have to have a artist kinda skill to by high level welder and trusted peoples lives in the stuff you build.
You know why, because the pay isn't high enough. The pay must be high enough for a person to afford a house, a car, health care, food, schooling, much much more. Which imho requires 75k
All the job I see for welder pay around $15 an hr. Now worth ruining your eye sight and knees for. You got to ask yourself, if employers can offer such low pay, is there really a shortage?
I take a lot of pride being a tradesman , transforming peoples homes changes their lives so it’s a nice sense of accomplishment because you’re working hard and helping people
I'm Gen Z. I've worked with my hands since I was about 12 years old. I bought my first house last year. I've replumbed, rewired, torn down walls, hung drywall, and rebuilt my kitchen, including replacing it's subfloor. I made my home my dream home. I work around kids my age who don't know how to use a drill or a wrench. I feel like an old lonesome soul in my generation for sure. My actual profession is IT. It's a shame my generation doesn't use technology as a learning tool, instead of a gateway to social media spaces. The American Dream can still be accomplished, I'm living proof. I'm also a 6 year military Veteran, without a degree. I have had no financial help whatsoever, like many young people believe you have to have. As long as you work hard for what you have, you can accomplish your dreams
Edit: To the nay sayers in the comment section, I do not receive a paycheck from being in the service. I did my time and that's it. My income is strictly from my current job. I don't understand why people think once you have served your country of your own free will, the government is entitled to give you a hand out for the rest of your life, that's not true whatsoever. I'm not disabled... Also I work IT, something the military DID NOT TRAIN me to do. I got certified on my own after I got out. I worked as a janitor until I got certified. Luck has nothing to do with it. You have to work hard and believe in yourself and have a positive attitude, and make good choices
👏 Good for you! I know it sucks feeling like you're alone. You're not so. There are a lot of people who resonate with you as long as you don't care about age/ "generation". It's about who you are as a person and who you resonate with.
You're very blessed to have those skills & attitude. Time to mentor those who do not have your knowledge. Not everyone knows how due to learning differences.
have fun paying insurance and property taxes on the house you "own"
You're a red herring - a 1 in a million needle in a haystack
@@WalkingHeadProin some states he wouldn’t have to pay property taxes if he’s disabled through the military (usually 100% though). Have fun paying your landlord’s property taxes and insurance though
I served my country and after I got out I started college at a 4 year school and quickly realized it wasn't for me. I switched to a tech school and now have a very satisfying career fixing medical equipment.
The American dream has become a freaking nightmare. Thanks Washington DC.
I work 40+ hours at a school district doing maintenence work with my hands. I'm in my mid 30s and the American dream is absolutely dead. I'll never own my own home while paying overpriced rent. If I would have been born in the 60s or 70s I'd have a house, a boat, a family ect. To say it's not dead means your in denial or you've already reached the dream and shame on anyone else who hasn't. Basic arithmetic can prove it's dead.
Income- Basic Necessities= your net worth.
I make $2,000 a month. Subtract that from my rent, gas, electric, water, groceries, pet food, toiletries ect and im left with about $50 left over every month. We can't fix what we didn't break with no tools provided.
We did break it.... And the fix is easy..... Quit ARTIFICIALLY propping up women. That one simple step will allow this problem to fix itself in time.....
You’re also working as a janitor. That’s a low level job. It’s not dead.. you just don’t have a high value skill
@@joebillage3578 janitors are valued job. Don’t kid yourself.
@@boatlover2296 they are valuable, but not high pay value. There’s a difference
You do have valuable skills but work for a entity that won’t pay well for them. Some like predictable life with easy days, health insurance and retirement plan. Entrepreneurship is riskier but pays 3-4x what others will pay you being a employee. I’ve only worked trades both as employee and self employed. Once established being self employed is way more profitable. But you have to work hard since it’s by the job not hourly. If you have the motivation start doing handyman or housekeeping on the side. If you are honest, do good work and professional it can easily grow to the point you will be having to decide keep the school job or go independent full time.
We cant fix it because the big guy gets 10%right off the top!
When my son was in middle school & they pushed college. I sat in that meeting & said - well - I don’t have a college education but I also have no student loans, no high credit card debt, my FICO is in the 800+ range, no car payment at the time and have a home. You can be successful with or without a college education. And to this day - I feel like a millionaire with my no debt before retirement plan - that’s more than I can say for most. College is not for everyone & you can still be successful if you have a plan in place.
You didn't say any of that
Well when you got a house they weren’t 8x average income like today
I feel like a big part of the population is ignored, male adults between 40-50 roughly. There are a lot of these people who would be exited to learn a trade but because of their age are overlooked. It’s always focused on kids which is understandable but there are more people besides the kids who a lot of times are too young to know what they want to do and large amounts of scholarships are wasted on them.
I don’t think those scholarships are wasted, but I agree with you. Stop making educational aid conditional on age.
Some people like myself also end up with complicated family living situations so early in life where one is a primary caretaker/provider or similar...Family lived remote because it was affordable, but also so poor I didn't have a way to get a car or job reliably...took a couple years to get a job, but once I did I've since done everything to escape that life of brokeness & poverty.
All of it is completely different for me 18 years later.
@@CoffeeCup1346
Totally agree.
@@Gamerz00760 This is why it often takes families generations, and huge feats, to catapult their children into something better.
How are the opportunities when most the jobs available don't pay enough for the average american to survive, pay rent and cost of living so this whole video makes no sense and is just a waste of time. Tell them to lower cost of living and maybe those labour jobs will be enough.
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I think Mike Rowe and Victor Davis Hanson are the most trusted men in the country
You might want to add voices like Ron Paul, Thomas Sowell, Patrick Bet-David and a quite a few others to your list. We have some brilliant Americans, both naturalized and natural born, offering brilliant ideas we should be paying attention to instead of tuning into MSM, whose main goal is to keep the people divided by telling us what we do, think, and who we should be.
@@marcyking461 pbd
Agree
I agree, add Dr. Thomas Sowell to that list!
You need to look up Thomas Sowell
Mike row is a straight up G yo!!! 💪🇺🇸🦅💯!!!!
My husband is blue collar and so am I. We need more highlight on common availability jobs in our communities and what training is actually required. Heavy Equipment and Ag Equipment operators and mechanics. Field mechanics especially. It is attainable and a great career. Mike has visited our local vo-tech college to help and it was great.
Let's please talk about the physical toll these jobs take, it's not all flowers and rainbows. I'm not even 40 and am already dealing with it.
If there were more people working we could work in rotational shifts, instead of getting two giys to work 9-12 hours straight.
Also, most trades people don't stay as wrench turner for life. They have to start a buisness, hire people, payroll, train employees. These are all separate skills that most trades people don't have and have to learn on top of their trade.
Worked since I was 10, full time, and yeah, 30 years later I can feel the harm it does. But as a skilled worker, I'll take a job if it needs done.
💯
People do these jobs and drink soda and energy drinks and eat fast food and bathe in radiation 24/7.
Americans need to stop living a lifestyle that doesn't support the body's natural regeneration processes.
You have to admit, it's hard to outsource plumbers and electricians. Every community college in America should dig up a syllabus from high schools from 60-70 years ago and check out the practical things our children were learning. Things like shop, home education, welding, etc., then compare today's syllabuses. Thank God people like Mike & Dr. Phill are bringing this topic to the forefront. Our kids could have good solid futures if they have real job skills.
Love your idea. Young adults would learn, "Self Worth". Hopefully not depressed nor suicidal also.
Much respect to Dr. Phil for taking the chance with Merit Street Media and investing his time and resources to create a media platform with honest respectful dialogue about real issues. He's a figure head from the mainstream media complex and could have comfortably stayed there. But MSM has become so bought and phony, gaslighting, fear mongering, straw manning and leaving out important information, and just ignoring topics all together. Which is why they are rotting away. So I appreciate Dr. Phil saying lets look closer, lets have these conversations and maybe examining issues that others might be missing.
An entire generation on ONLY FANS and y'all can't figure out why there aren't workers?
😂😂😂
Corporation greed is what’s killing workers
Mostly women who wouldn’t do trade work anyway
@carsonwhitney finally a commenter who understands😎
@honeybadger3570 don't forget UA-cam.
Plumber, mechanic, electrician. Are solid. There are so many people I deal with today that are incapable of fixing it. Everyone is wearing pajamas to work😅
There are some pretty bad plumbers out there.
just ask any elite like dr phil to change their career.
oh right
we know he won't because those jobs are not worth it.
is dr phil sending his kids to trade school?
@@CrinkledPankerSocietylol, and even those guys are making bank 🤣
I could not love this more!! Mike Rowe is changing the country for the better!! My son in law drives heavy equipment in a mine ($32 an hour) & he just got a better job driving the same heavy equipment above ground ($45 an hour!) The interviewer asked if he knew anyone else wanting a job because they can't find help.
“That's why they call it the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.”
- George Carlin
George Carlin was a brilliant comedian however you've taken that line out of context.
I want to see more of Dr. Phil live on the street.
This is absolutely great!!! Thanks guys
The empire is circling the drain.
Yep, our 300 years is almost up.
Big problem with society is like during this hurricane, I'm in Beaumont, texas close to Houston. . My neighbor bragged about his 2k dollar tablet and I'm humble and have less tech gear but a generator. Now techie neighbor has no power or ac and crys for help. The price of the tablet would of purchased 4 generators. Americans have been breed to purchase without thought and not think towards the future.
I rather enjoy my minor's light and a good book when the power goes out. I also think our of our Pioneering Forefather's and wonder what they'd think of their offspring, living in today's world with all of our luxuries? I suspect they'd be embarrassed to call us kin.
@marcyking461 yah but with 100 degree days and 85 degree nights. Toss mosquitos in that mix....Meh.... no thanks to that. Plus the deep freezer and fridge keep cool as well.
@@davidwier2862 My point is that most of us don't realize how well we got it, until we don't got it. When things get tough, I try to remember that man with no feet. A generator is nice and a Godsend, but there was a time when they didn't exist and man managed to survive anyway. Go figure.
@marcyking461 for sure. I was 2 merit badges away from eagle scout. Totally understand you. When we dear hunt we use a tarp between trees. No tent.
Tell me.... I had power and gave power to the guy next to me 😅😅. O don't forget he has new cars and trucks 😅😅😅😅.
Thank you very much for this conversion. Anybody can be a doctor or an attorney. Those white collar jobs, that’s basically all they know. One thing. Blue collar workers are what makes America America. Those blue collar workers usually are able to do a lot of different jobs. 🇺🇸🙏🏻 Through Covid we saw that, we NEED ALL PEOPLE. ALL.
Only now nobody wants to work especially the younger generations.
Dr Phil for President, Mike Rowe Vice President!
I pulled my autistic son out of school because one of the things they were doing him was interrupting what he was doing 6-8 times a day. So he would learn to deal with it. He wanted to finish his assignment & they wouldn't let him. He was acting out from frustration. They were teaching him to do things halfassed
I do understand, but its also important to teach people do complete things within a reasonable time frame. The problem is, it’s hard when incompetent teachers don’t understand what is a reasonable amount of work within a certain time frame. It’s a really hard balance to regulate, and you’re right that if work distribution is in the hands of an incompetent teacher, it will have a detrimental affect on the kid.
As a young adult that is on the spectrum myself it can be our biggest supper power and it can be are biggest destroyer unfortunately society looks at us as "different" when in all reality there is no normal we are all human ❤️
@@NSTLgngSay it again louder for the people in the back!!!!!! I love teachers, but they are incredibly clueless when it comes to giving kids work!!!!!
Kennedy is the one. Vote for him in November.
Appreciate what you do Mike. Blessings 😘💕💕💕
I got my degrees in physics and mechanical engineering. I started my career in a national scientific laboratory in 1982. In the first hour of starting that job my supervisor, a physics PhD, walked me to the machine shop and told/advised me to treat these people with respect because they were talented and could make or break your career. For the next 30 years, even after I became a supervisor and group leader, I kept going to the shops myself to interact with these valued colleagues. It as one of the things I enjoyed most in my job.
When my daughter visited LA schools at age 13 (on a school trip from Australia) - she was surprised when the kids in 3 different schools were on their phones in class and not listening to the lessons. It distressed her...the long term outcomes for those kids.
And perception of disrespecting the teacher by not being attentive...
Imo this argument is not about the job, but the cost of living, houses and other basics.
It's the classic cost of a house in ratio to the avg income, the difference in generations is massive.
Not to mention older generations are also feeling the pinch so they cant help their children like they used to.
The middle class is dead
Keep Voting Democratic
Exactly, you can't expect all 20-30 somethings to have a household income of 160k just to be able to afford a basic old house. Just absurd.
@@bigo2032 I assume you are old enough to have voted 0 times?
@@jaybanks5803im 60 and have voted since I was 18, I’m fortunate to live in a Red State… for now
It is simply a pay issue. I used to be a mechanic but why would I use 30k in tools I had to buy to make $40k a year because labor times are so bad now. My toolbox has wheels and they helped me wheel them 30k worth of tools back to my garage at my house. I got a job in IT making twice what I did as a mechanic without having to spend a single dollar on tools.
First of all, I'd have to see receipts to believe you paid 30k for tools. I'm an industrial maintenance mechanic, and don't have half that much in tools .. secondly, if you're a good mechanic working for 40k a yr. that's your fault.
everyone needs to send this around. take down info and use! TY, Mike!
Almost every job i can find has a revolving door of new hires, they use temp agencies, and once you are eligible for a few raises, they try to figure out how to fire you or run you out. I have worked places that werent even giving raises or training you on a new job, they just had the same guys on the same machine for 5+ years. The best jobs i can find offer zero chance of turning it into a career. I have never been able to afford insurance, and hardly ever buy groceries. I cry at the thought of how I am going to pay bills next month sometimes. If you work 'too hard' you are only criticized and NEVER shown appreciation. This country is PATHETIC. The people are LAZY. And NO ONE CARES.
I don't think the question is about jobs or even college, though those are part of the problem.
It's when the middle class has been systematically eliminated and continues to be attacked by government/billionaires. It's never been harder to take care of a family and/or buy a house.
Even if someone argues "work harder", there's very little upward momentum. We've also cultivated a society that rewards hard workers with more work and less pay.
I think about the parents in the 50's wanting their children to have better lives; not live through deadly disease, a nation in financial collapse, World Wars, etc.
Somehow, their grandchildren are mired in materialism and fatalism.
I was fortunate enough to have parents who'd gone through the Great Depression and they knew how to survive, garden, fix things ... be self-sufficient and frugal. They taught us to count our blessings and believe in ourselves. I tried to pass those gifts onto my own children, but somewhere along the way, being a working mother, a little of the luster got lost, and I'm seeing more luster fade in my grandchildren as the rat race changes, and the families of my childhood no longer take time to sit down and dine together or talk to each other face-to-face. Progress is a bittersweet reality that is robbing the people of their identities and families of time spent together.
@@marcyking461 Yes....If you want your child or any young person to succeed, "setting the example" is a grrrreat start.
Problem is most trades unless owning your own company or a contractor and dictate your rates then most companies pay employees trash wages. Why bust your tail for $15/hr 12hr days when you can make more stocking shelves. Start your own company learn a trade.
Two very smart, wise men...love 'em! Don't stop what you're doing Mike & Phil!
Military school with a chosen trade, learning community, teamwork and patriotism.
Sounds like propaganda statement
Sounds spot on!
F that
Hardships overcome at training, actual skills, feel part of a group, learn to work as a team, and stand up for those around you. Sounds correct to me!
Dr. Phil, I need you!!!
It's really true what's being said here, because nowadays especially in the younger generation they do not want to get a real job that requires physical labor, they want to become UA-cam influencers or go out and just make UA-cam videos or tik Tok videos, that doesn't require a whole lot of thinking or knowledge, I mean if you can take a picture or video then you're good to go! From my 8th grade year until I graduated from the 12th grade in high school I took a woodshop class and I learned how to do framing and building houses or sheds and even furniture, and to this day I still use those skills for my benefit, and I love it just as much now as I did way back then and I am 62 years old! 👍👍👍
That’s the thing. Even if you don’t pursue a career in construction, you can save a fortune in home repairs and remodeling costs. I view it as part of being a competent man.
@@spiritanimal7516 That’s debatable. Depending on the job, the physical activity is good for you. Sitting at a desk all day is probably worse for you.
I think that was the plan all along. Get everyone not wanting to work and then introduce AI to their rescue. All a greater plan.
@@jpjp3873 It's not debatable, it's a fact
Doing "blue collar" jobs like these are extremely underpaid, they take a physical toll on your body and due to the fact that you strain your body you aren't able to get ACTUAL exercise or go to the gym, you instead work your body and damage it doing work that is paid less than any desk job in existence.
Amazing content lately and Mike Rowe is for the working man!!
as a man, having had a good trade, I found what he needs is a good woman that is skilled in managing a basic household, my Lady was multi-talented and the talent she had was learned in home economics and she was very good at it. Basically, in my home I earned the $$ did the chores around and some in the home, it's almost like running a successful business, the best person for each job does the job. In our case we had no challenges in regards of who does what. Teamwork with Love.
🙌🏻
Need to get ALL the Trades in highschool before its too late!! This guy is a saint for real.
What makes you think 🤔 people will work those awful jobs and smelly conditions
You think they won't look the job up and see people in them doing it full time and Struggle just to pay a few bills and have to do side jobs just to Barely make it .
They pulled shop class out of high schools. I must be getting old cs i didnt know that
Yep, they also pulled American History, which is not the same thing as U.S. History (two different jurisdictions, two different political stances, and we are 'subject to' two different types of L(land)A(air)W(water)s; Common Law (L) or Statutory Law (A&W) ... which is a REAL BIG DEAL since the law of the land (Common Law) applies to living men & women, and Statutory Law applies to fictions, which incudes corporation such as U.S. citizens (they don't teach you that in school, do they?), CIVICS, Home Economics, and God only knows what else.
On the other hand, we now have Drag Queen Story Hour for our preschoolers and 'Gender Study' Diplomas for our College Graduates. Who needs to connect with our natural roots when we can be their Corporate Slaves, which is another reason they'd love nothing more than for you to mark 'X' as your gender on your birth certificate --- the equivalent of being lost at sea for eternity?
These two, wow! They deserve a badge of honor for standing up and have the courage to go against the abnormal of today's society.
In the 90s one could work a regular job and afford a basic apartment utilities and food today you’d need to work 4 jobs. What’s needed is a living wage predicated on the cost of living. I don’t believe they will ever do it.
Love that Adam Ray is finally interviewing Mike Rowe
The dream is not dead it is just changing everyday.
In other words dead!!!! Thanks to corporate greed.
Mike Rowe is a genius. He showed the world that it's the average ordinary person that goes to work everyday, that the people that makes the world turn. Their the ones that make everyday life possible! Thank you Mike, from one of those people.
I have Worked 37 years same field. Paycheck to paycheck. I have nothing to show for it, except a body in pain and nothing to retire on. Own nothing! Thanks to the cost of living. I am living the American nightmare!
That's because you effed up and made poor decisions! America is filled with opportunity, you just chose not to capitalize on it.
You should have read the Richest Man in Babylon. Shows you how to build wealth even on small wages.
A clerk at the local Lowes impressed me time and again with her willingness to go beyond the basics. I suggested she consider applying at the Big Company where my family works. The Big Company HR people would not let her through the filters. Regardless of experience, capacity, or personal recommendations, she was a no-go because she lacks a college degree. If she had a BA in Underwater Basket Weaving, she'd be in. It's a sad state of affairs.
Case in point: We stopped at a gas station to help what appeared to be a distraught lady with a flat tire. Her 18 year old boy steps out of the car. I asked him why he wasnt helping his Mom change the tire. "I Dont Know!", standard answer nowadays. I said no problem, my 12 year old daughter will get you started and show you how. After the first bolt was removed he continued to stand there like a lump of broccoli. He expected us to finish it for him. Told Mom flat out, you better work on your son before its too late and he is 40 years old sleeping in her basement.
I am almost 80 when ever l work with my hands... electrical plumbing construction....the youngest among us drift off sit and watch a screen or just disappear.... that's not true they do return for lunch or dinner
Well said Sir, and very accurate.
Yeah cause if he learns how to change a tire suddenly that will reverse 60yrs of failed economic/social trends and he'll be able to get a traditional wife with the white picket fence. NOT. It's not 2004 anymore, everything costs 2-3x as much with the same wages. You can't fault boys for not wanting to be traditional when you didn't exactly bring them into a traditional world at all. Conservatives lost the battle in America which is ironic cause you'd think the tougher ones would come out ahead like you say. What really happened is while sitting in your rocking chair watching Fox News you let liberals quietly take this country under your nose and did nothing to stop it except teach your daughter how to change a tire. You can continue to live in delusion in your Gen X/Boomer head but all you gotta do is look around at the purple haired combative women to realize society took away boys primary motivation to succeed.
My next-door neighbor has two grown boys and I watched her mow the lawn while they’re standing there watching her so pitiful
@@davidmann4533 She might enjoy mowing the lawn or another answer She raised them .
During Covid I realized I’m an essential work, but I’m not economically valuable.
This is not just an American issue.
I can build your home, from the bricks to the beams, to the plaster to the plumbing to the electrics, to the furniture, fix your car, motorcycle, boat, design, weld, machine, code micro-controllers to desktop and mobile apps to whatever.
But now at 55 I am dumbfounded that less and less and less of the younger folk can do what I did before I was the age of 18.
They have seen everything via a screen and know everything but have yet done something close to nothing in terms of actual hands-on work.
Still I remain optimistic that culture/society will catch up.
Mike has the experience and is the voice/vision of an important topic that needs to be addressed.
So true....well said
Can they afford to buy land close enough to the jobs to build a house without inheriting it? The only way you could possible learn all that before 18 is your dad was a contractor and taught you all those skills. Most people don't have that luxury.
@@mikesteelheart I can do all that stuff too, I am the son of a millwright. My childhood was far from luxurious.
I live on my sailboat, I have my mini welder and my plumbing tools with me. My yearly cost of living is down to $3500 including everything. I can make, if needed, that amount on one job. I can charge 4 times more than before, people are desperate. But I'm not taking any jobs, I retired 13 years ago when I realized that there is no wife's to marry. Now I'm 53 and I just wanna sail, fish and watch the world burn.
I haven’t watched the video but I can say that the American dream is not dead but it on life support and will likely pass very soon. Don’t let your 2A go, it’s the only thing we have left.
Some of this is bs. I've applied to some trades as an apprentice, and most jobs want at 2 or more years experience. No one wants to train anymore, and if you do get in somewhere, there's politics and the good ole boy system you have to deal with.
degreed applicants get discriminated against for applying to labor jobs....cant even get an interview for lowes warehouse...because im over educated....apparently
Don't put it on your resume?
It’s just an excuse for them. For whatever reason they decided you weren’t a fit. Lowe’s is a retail job anyway. Go look into an apprenticeship program in electrical or mechanical trades.
I am in that situation: have degree in physics, can't get drab jobs to jumpstart my entry into workforce and can't get any trade jobs and can't get any jobs in my fields (alternative energy math etc.)
Thank you Mike!
Because the problem is, they don't pay a cost of living at all. They are not meeting the standard where people can live on it because there is no respect anymore.
I am 73 years old, comfortably retired, and better off than 90% of Americans. My daughter (47) is a millionaire and my eldest granddaughter (32) is a millionaire and building. We have GEDs, it would be a mistake to think we are poorly educated. We possess marketable skills. A little smart and a lot of work NEVER fails. Note: About half my time spent in a classroom was wasted. Our public school system is failing our youth.
If you don’t mind me, asking what job career field where these two daughters was it sales?
I have worked in the trades since 1975 as a carpenter , moved along and went onto contracting and building, I have always enjoyed the hard work . One major point i wanna make is the weather , Ive worked in 100 degree heat and 0 degree frigid cold for hours on end. I have to say some days were absolute agony being outside. So for all of you who think you wanna work in the building trades, you better be prepared to handle those weather conditions . The extremes are brutal , cant just go home , no work no pay , ya gotta hack it
Younger adults refuse to work outside of an air conditioned office.
At 45 my body can't work anymore. The dream wasn't real for me. I run a garden now to survive.
I’m sorry to hear that. Hopefully you get at least some disability.
There’s thousands of voices like yours, if people are willing to listen. It’s only people stay quiet!because they blame themselves.
@@CoffeeCup1346 , unfortunately, big pharma, Dr's taking kickbacks, elites running the show. They all remind me of school age children.
45 too young for broken body. Hope you get the healing you deserve. Like what the other commenter said young but many others have similar stories and behind the 8-ball for opportunities.
@@benb3799 meningitis, worst case seen in 70 years that survived. I had no idea my body would do that so I worked like normal, hard. It's much better now. I give care to people that need it.
Not to mention the IRS taking 40% of everything you earn
I worked in skilled trade my whole adult life. Now in sales. We cannot find any younger males with any good skills at all. They all want 30 hour and can't change a light bulb. They also dont want to work more than 8 hours a day. We as a country are doomed.
Little do they know a work ethic starts with the parents at a very young age for the child😢 it sounds good on paper but I’m here for it.
The American dream is what you put in and how smart you are as an individual. I get up at 5am every day, work till 5:30, cook my own food within 30-40 mins, have a demand and high paid job with unbeatable benefits with zero student dent. Anyone can do it but do they?
In most cases…..nope!
Everyone wants to work in the A/C, get up late, have a high paid job with little to no effort, and wants everything handed to them. That doesn’t exist. People need to learn to invest their time better to get their dream or it’s going to be a nightmare.
❤. And those who won't do those things are being "Replaced" every day with this invasion.
@@bluebirdgramma6317 Yup. They wonder why things aren’t going well and why everything sucks. You have to work hard to succeed. I’m not saying you have to work 80 hours a week but individuals have to sacrifice and compensate which they refuse to but the choice is theirs.
I killed myself making what I do now but I have options now since in the labor sector NO ONE wants to physically work. It’s absolutely insane. Even when they’re offering 6 figures a year….they still won’t do it. Getting up at 5am has your average gen Z panicking and scared to death. Old age and retirement comes one way or the other. Most will never retire, very sad.
4:57 Much appreciated to see figures WITH adjusted for inflation taken into account! That is extremely important in my opinion.
As a millennial, truck driver since 2009, i wouldnt encourage anyone to ever throw their life away to do this job like i did.
I pray this all colapses soon. Not for me but my children. I would rather we build and start new than keep this all going
Dude, you’re only a millennial. Pick a new career and move on!
@jpjp3873 yah let me just ask for college loans at 40 that I can pay off at 70...
@jpjp3873 you make it sound so easy I can't understand why anyone anywhere is struggling...
My brother is an engineer working on the ICBM 2 miniuiteman, we're in the same tax bracket. Whats your grand suggestion?
@@2pink1stink my brother in law was a forklift driver at a winery and at 40 years old went back to community college and became a nurse. No loans necessary. You have options. Don’t be discouraged.
I absolutely agree, the american dream is dead. I worked for a medical staffing company with a good job that I liked, and was very important. I was laid off unfortunatley, along with almost 1000 other people over the last year so the company could hire overseas Indian remote workers for dollars a day. Truely sad. You cant really get very far in the middle class anymore.
Fantastic stuff y'all
Personally myself, Dr. Phil, I think they should put them back in schools put mechanics back in school home economics back in school when I was going to school. The boys would work on the cars in the back young ladies would learn to cook in the kitchen home economics,,,, That way the girls learn to cook and do crafty things. Also put sports back in schools. They’re taking them out and you gotta pay to go now to put your kids in a sporting event. It’s ridiculous. This is upside down.
Mechanics and shops should be elective courses, and it should depend on what the man wants to do with his life; not every guy aspires to be a carpenter/plumber/welder/tool dye maker/whatever blue collar career is out there. Plus, think of the adult men who are physically disabled from birth (men like me, Cerebral Palsy here.) These are the careers in which you need to be in good physical shape to succeed in, and what if that man is prone to accidents? The man who can't succeed as a carpenter/craftsman may instead find he's an excellent chef/caterer/party planner. We could use more people in the hospitality industry.
The problem is that Young American woman prefer careers over marriage and motherhood.
So happy that this curriculum will be brought to Western HS. We need all the trades people we can get here in Vegas.
We need skills schools they are scarce and that is what America was brought up on was people working owning businesses run by family and inherited on through the family line... Plumbers, air and heating, mechanics, electrical, masons, carpentry, etc... this is what America is about
I laugh all the way to the bank today , cause my drafting job in construction was eliminated. But I learned how things went together and moved to the hands on part .
Friend just graduated electrical and can't get a job in that field
What state?
Come to Florida there’s plenty of electrician jobs
That can’t be true. There 10 million jobs, haven’t you heard? He can just have one of those.
When you say graduated electrical, what exactly do you mean? University’s don’t put out electricians. Trade school or apprenticeship program?
@@savannahavant9855 Trumper
I loved watching Mike Rowe on dirty jobs. He taught me how we are all connected and how each one of us play an important role in this world. And how to be thankful for those who do these jobs you had no idea even existed. Not only did he visit and interview them- he would learn and perform the job!
1 percenters asking other 1 percenters if the American Dream is dead 😅
Exactly
Being in the top single percentage is actually very attainable. Maybe not at the level of these two but their fame is a big multiplier.
Mike shows up for 2 hours and then gets paid our annual salary 😂
Good point but doesn't mean they don't have one too
Moot point. They both worked their way to being well off and want to help the younger generations do the same for themselves
I love the new Dr. Phil. Shows He's actually cool now!
Real men.
Excited for this new team up, love Dr. Phil and Mike Rowe, I've watched them both since about 2005 when Dirty Jobs was big.
Something they don't touch on is a lot of those 10 million positions pay $15 an hour. The reason a lot of my generation (90s kids) have moved to tech and IT is because you have to make $120k a year just to get by these days. I worked in construction for 3 years and loved working with my hands and being outside but it didn't pay the bills, so I had to adapt with the economy, trends, and inflation.
My dad used to get by making $15 an hour building bridges in the 80s and 90s, but thats not even close to a living wage anymore. Feels like $20 an hour is bare minimum wage to get by, and I live in a relatively cheap COL area in NC. I can't imagine living in a more expensive state like Colorado or California making that.
Pay people more for trade jobs, stop complaining that the gap is growing when a lot of the contractors know they are heavily underpaying their current trade workers, pay people more and the gap will close.
You can pay more but then the service will cost more
Workman’s compensation insurance should be shown as a deduction on the pay stub.
They should also see the employer match on SS. The employer side of Medicare and unemployment insurance both state and federal.
Employees should see the costs of osha compliance. EPA compliance. Etc.
And yes I think they should be paid more.
I don’t know why this channel continues to show up on my feed. I’m not sure what it is but just the sound of the Dr’s voice gives me a massive headache but Mike is the man!
The only answer anyone has is work harder, work more, give more of your life away in the pursuit of the material.
What a depressing philosophy that is.
A plumber might be able to make 6 figures but certainly not easy, maybe with a fair amount of overtime. I’ve been in the building trades for 29 years and have always taken nearly all the overtime ever offered and have never come close to 6 figures
It may depend on the cost of living in your area. Major cities I think it would be possible, especially union.
@@GoogleMe-en9sg I’m union in Indianapolis Indiana, I’ve never cleared $80k. This year will probably be the first time in my career but I’ve worked overtime the whole year so far
Depends on where you live. In California, union tradesmen easily make over six figures. But it very expensive to live there. There are places with a good balance. You may have to move.
Edit: never mind, I realized you said you already had 29 years in. Probably too late.
@@jpjp3873 yes, 4 1/2 years to go and I’m ready
You're doing a fantastic job mike
Our high schools here have classes to teach blue color jobs like Body Tech, Electrician, etc. The company I work for hires those interested in the auto collision industry straight from high school, give the tools, and get them going.
Nope get your own hands dirty
@@KJJ782 they do.
The problem with construction here in the bay area is it can take 2 hours to drive 30 miles. And for some you don't get paid till your at the jobsite which can be different everyday. So an 8 hour workday turns into 12+ hours a day with the commute. Many of these workers drink alcohol and smoke marijuana to cope with the stress. Others that go to the gym sleep like 5 hours a night which can't be good for the body long term. And when your shift is over your too tired to go out and do anything so part of your life suffers from not enough leisure activities. I had a sense of accomplishment learning some of the trades but over time I burned out and couldn't motivate myself to do the work. For me working local without a commute 4 days a week is ideal.
I make 6 figures, my wife makes almost 6 figures and live in cheapest area in the country and we are still fuxed. It's ridiculous. The food prices and gas prices and to buy decent vehicles and pay for kids college, etc FUXING killing me.
Medical bills? Child support? Credit card debt? Something doesn’t add up otherwise. Nearly 200,000 a year should definitely get you by in the cheapest area of the country.
The dude probably has like 6 large loans. Bro that's your personal problem not the economy
It’s because middle class is taxed to death. Poor people don’t understand that.
I call BS. My wife and I make about $140,000 combined and we have two in college and we're overwhelmingly blessed. It's all about living within your means.
Trades are not lucrative if you work for a company. And starting your own company is not for everyone. The trades are FAR too romanticized. And I'm a career carpenter