Sign of the Times: Help Wanted

[greatwhite]

Also screaming for Bus Drivers in Ottawa, but nobody applying.

Heavy construction for infrastructure in the GTA pays labourers 40+/hr and are screaming for guys every year they don't even care if you are useless as long as you show up. And a ton of the the ones they have can barely make it to work at that rate. I think it's human nature to take the path of least resistance. There's always winners, and always will be losers.

[Birdbuff]

A better solution is to get an education.

Not always the best idea these days. The construction industry is practically begging for more workers. There is no requirement other than being over 18 years of age. Everything is paid training. If young people weren’t afraid of getting a bit of dirt under their finger nails and working up a sweat doing manual labour they could have a lucrative career. But, alas they are too glued to their phones.

[greatwhite]

I agreed but that still falls under getting Educated. Anyone who thinks that flipping burgers or selling coffee should be paid a so called living wage is smoking Trudope. Sorry but flipping burgers and being a cashier does not require much, been there done it.

I go back and forth between high paying and low paying my go to job is the Lawn care company I worked for 25 years ago and in between jobs I go there. I make in a week what was my spending money. Can I live off it yes is it as lucrative NO. But I do what I have to do and I don't want to be spending my savings before my retirement.

My new Job isn't paying as much as I had been making for the past 2 years actually it's about a 25K pay cut but I am still going to go to work.

99% of those complaining don't really want to work and we can see the proof now as you have indicated even good paying jobs making 20+ and hour and people still want the free money.

If I was employer when that money runs out and someone applied to work because it ran out I would throw their application in the garbage.

Jobs are a dime a dozen and very easy to find compared to the 1980's

Not always the best idea these days. The construction industry is practically begging for more workers. There is no requirement other than being over 18 years of age. Everything is paid training. If young people weren’t afraid of getting a bit of dirt under their finger nails and working up a sweat doing manual labour they could have a lucrative career. But, alas they are too glued to their phones.

[dean.f]

I do wonder why there isn't a steady stream of workers coming from the east coast. 15 years ago they were the majority on any job site, they've now since retired back home and nobody seems to be taking their places. Now these companies are trying to recruit from rural areas and even other countries to fill the void. Where are the Albertans that are dying for pipeline work? We have the jobs here. I've seen a few that have trickled back that were originally from here.

I agree with you GW that flipping burgers shouldn't be a career. I flipped burgers, I changed oil, I delivered lumber, I was not paid enough to afford a vehicle and gas so I got 2 jobs, then I got better jobs. That's the point, learn good habits at these starting positions and move on to bigger and better.

[greatwhite]

All the places I worked have never expected you to be the Best of the Best they want someone who will be a team player and who will do their best and have what it takes to succeed and you have shown that.

Believe it or not I actually like working at the Lawn care company more then computers, actually I hate computers. Doing Lawn care I don't really have to think much and working in IT I am always thinking and cannot shut it out of my head.

In 3 - 4 years I should be at the point where I don't have to care or worry as much if I have a high paying job. Not going back to Lawn care as that is Summer work, probably go drive a school bus and enjoy my Summers and I can shut off my brain.

Cheers,

I do wonder why there isn't a steady stream of workers coming from the east coast. 15 years ago they were the majority on any job site, they've now since retired back home and nobody seems to be taking their places. Now these companies are trying to recruit from rural areas and even other countries to fill the void. Where are the Albertans that are dying for pipeline work? We have the jobs here. I've seen a few that have trickled back that were originally from here.

I agree with you GW that flipping burgers shouldn't be a career. I flipped burgers, I changed oil, I delivered lumber, I was not paid enough to afford a vehicle and gas so I got 2 jobs, then I got better jobs. That's the point, learn good habits at these starting positions and move on to bigger and better.

[73hunter]

I do wonder why there isn't a steady stream of workers coming from the east coast. 15 years ago they were the majority on any job site, they've now since retired back home and nobody seems to be taking their places. Now these companies are trying to recruit from rural areas and even other countries to fill the void. Where are the Albertans that are dying for pipeline work? We have the jobs here. I've seen a few that have trickled back that were originally from here.

I agree with you GW that flipping burgers shouldn't be a career. I flipped burgers, I changed oil, I delivered lumber, I was not paid enough to afford a vehicle and gas so I got 2 jobs, then I got better jobs. That's the point, learn good habits at these starting positions and move on to bigger and better.

Not everybody “gets it” with the idea that a fast food or retail job is supposed to be a stepping stone for something better later. And I agree with your earlier post about heavy construction in the GTA always being short of good people. I work in that business in the GTA and some of the people we get really make me shake my head. Everybody wants the $40/hr but few really want to work, and even less want to do quality work.

[73hunter]

All the places I worked have never expected you to be the Best of the Best they want someone who will be a team player and who will do their best and have what it takes to succeed and you have shown that.

Believe it or not I actually like working at the Lawn care company more then computers, actually I hate computers. Doing Lawn care I don't really have to think much and working in IT I am always thinking and cannot shut it out of my head.

In 3 - 4 years I should be at the point where I don't have to care or worry as much if I have a high paying job. Not going back to Lawn care as that is Summer work, probably go drive a school bus and enjoy my Summers and I can shut off my brain.

Cheers,

Yup…one of my favourite jobs I had was in summer after high school working in a warehouse….picking orders and loading trucks, love to do that again after I exit the rat race

[Deer Hunter]

I do wonder why there isn't a steady stream of workers coming from the east coast. 15 years ago they were the majority on any job site, they've now since retired back home and nobody seems to be taking their places. Now these companies are trying to recruit from rural areas and even other countries to fill the void. Where are the Albertans that are dying for pipeline work? We have the jobs here. I've seen a few that have trickled back that were originally from here.

I agree with you GW that flipping burgers shouldn't be a career. I flipped burgers, I changed oil, I delivered lumber, I was not paid enough to afford a vehicle and gas so I got 2 jobs, then I got better jobs. That's the point, learn good habits at these starting positions and move on to bigger and better.

You see some East Coast workers up North working in Forestry.
I know one Forestry contractor ordered a worker from Poland and another from Belarus.
He's waiting for another from Africa.
These guys are all moving their family here after a while.
Talking to them they are living the dream but contractors are struggling to get bush workers locally.

[Cameracutter]

What is a living wage? What is suitable? what should gross income be per annual? Be interested to see your response.

For an individual, in the $24 an hour area. If one was married with kids, I doubt one income would cut it.

And I doubt home ownership would be possible.

[greatwhite]

Income of 46800.00, you would need a second income of at least 15 grand.

My daughter and her boy friend just bought their first house with a combined income of 65.000

Almost every family has dual incomes. So yes most could afford a starter home but would probably be a fixer upper. Problem is most people now a days want the dream home now and feel they should not have to work their way up.

For an individual, in the $24 an hour area. If one was married with kids, I doubt one income would cut it.

And I doubt home ownership would be possible.