Feels like work will never get better - Page 2 - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

macmikeman · 03-27-2012, 11:42 PM

In tough times like these, if I lived in Washington, Oregon, or Northern Cali, and could not get steady work, enough to live on, I think maybe I might become a horticulturist in my spare time. If you get my drift young fellars, if you get my drift...

chicken steve · 03-28-2012, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIVETER

As long as our Country's policy is to create an atmosphere that sends companies overseas to build products and bring them back in to us to buy is sustained, it won't get much better. Tinker Toys, made in China means that no plants will be built here that could have made them HERE.

http://www.greatamericanjobsscam.com/

~CS~

bobelectric · 04-22-2012, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macmikeman

In tough times like these, if I lived in Washington, Oregon, or Northern Cali, and could not get steady work, enough to live on, I think maybe I might become a horticulturist in my spare time. If you get my drift young fellars, if you get my drift...

Maui Wowee!

henderson14 · 04-23-2012, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIVETER

As long as our Country's policy is to create an atmosphere that sends companies overseas to build products and bring them back in to us to buy is sustained, it won't get much better. Tinker Toys, made in China means that no plants will be built here that could have made them HERE.

I don't see what that has to do with construction. We don't build buildings overseas and ship them over to America. It actually helps construction because contractors can purchase less expensive tools and equipment and that helps them keep costs down for bids and projects. Cheaper products also gives consumers more money in their pockets to spend on other things. It's called globalization and it won't change.

Theriot · 04-23-2012, 09:42 AM

What about moving out of the big cities. I'm not saying move to green acres but a mid size town. The pay will be less but more work cheaper cost of living ect. The big cities are broke

Boomer · 04-23-2012, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henderson14

I don't see what that has to do with construction. We don't build buildings overseas and ship them over to America. It actually helps construction because contractors can purchase less expensive tools and equipment and that helps them keep costs down for bids and projects. Cheaper products also gives consumers more money in their pockets to spend on other things. It's called globalization and it won't change.

How can you not? What's the value in being able to purchase cheap tools from China if you have no use for them once you acquire them? ie: construction work

henderson14 · 04-23-2012, 09:58 AM

Well you obviously need work to use your tools on, but a company moving its production to china doesn't have an overall negative affect on the construction industry. Independent of if a company moves production oversees, you still need a job to use tools on. Like I said, you can't ship construction jobs to China the jobs going overseas that you were referring to are not construction, so I still "don't see what that has to do with construction."

My point about cheap tools and materials was the contractor purchasing them. A contractor isnt' going to open a shop or purchase more materials and tools if there isn't a job to use them on. A job is half material cost and about half labor so the less they spend on materials is more they can spend bidding jobs and paying you. Making the cost of business lower increases work.

electrictim510 · 04-23-2012, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henderson14

Well you obviously need work to use your tools on, but a company moving its production to china doesn't have an overall negative affect on the construction industry. Independent of if a company moves production oversees, you still need a job to use tools on. Like I said, you can't ship construction jobs to China the jobs going overseas that you were referring to are not construction, so I still "don't see what that has to do with construction."

My point about cheap tools and materials was the contractor purchasing them. A contractor isnt' going to open a shop or purchase more materials and tools if there isn't a job to use them on. A job is half material cost and about half labor so the less they spend on materials is more they can spend bidding jobs and paying you. Making the cost of business lower increases work.

Moving jobs outside of the U.S. makes less people have money to spend in the U.S.. The more jobs that are lost doing stuff like making toys and canning food the less they have to build more buildings for the company to get bigger. Stuff similar to this I see affecting the economy.

henderson14 · 04-23-2012, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electrictim510

Moving jobs outside of the U.S. makes less people have money to spend in the U.S.. The more jobs that are lost doing stuff like making toys and canning food the less they have to build more buildings for the company to get bigger. Stuff similar to this I see affecting the economy.

That has some negative effect, but not enough to offset the gains we get from significantly cheaper products. MOST people do not have jobs in manufacturing, and the ones that lose their jobs find new ones, even if the pay is less starting out. The slightly lower pay that the small segment of US workers receives doesnt not have large enough of an effect to hurt construction. It's been studied already. Outsourcing benefits consumers and businesses, while squeezing some in the middle class. The middle class now is adapting by going to college. Why spend your time worrying about something that you can't change. Its reality, adapt.

Boomer · 04-23-2012, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henderson14

That has some negative effect, but not enough to offset the gains we get from significantly cheaper products. MOST people do not have jobs in manufacturing, and the ones that lose their jobs find new ones, even if the pay is less starting out. The slightly lower pay that the small segment of US workers receives doesnt not have large enough of an effect to hurt construction. It's been studied already. Outsourcing benefits consumers and businesses, while squeezing some in the middle class. The middle class now is adapting by going to college. Why spend your time worrying about something that you can't change. Its reality, adapt.

What is gained from flooding the US with inferior cheaper products????

Most people don't have manufacturing jobs here b/c there are very few manufacturing jobs left in the US.

It's okay to loose your manufacturing job b/c production moved overseas....McDonald's or Walmart is hiring...WOOT WOOT!!

Squeezing "some" in the middle class?? They are adapting by going to college???

What world do you live in?

electrictim510 · 04-23-2012, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henderson14

That has some negative effect, but not enough to offset the gains we get from significantly cheaper products. MOST people do not have jobs in manufacturing, and the ones that lose their jobs find new ones, even if the pay is less starting out. The slightly lower pay that the small segment of US workers receives doesnt not have large enough of an effect to hurt construction. It's been studied already. Outsourcing benefits consumers and businesses, while squeezing some in the middle class. The middle class now is adapting by going to college. Why spend your time worrying about something that you can't change. Its reality, adapt.

For the record; I'm not worried about it. Just posting my thoughts. I think our whole system is jacked but there is nothing I can d about it so I forget about it.

chris856 · 04-23-2012, 01:04 PM

I can't speak for other places, but I see things slowly picking up here. I see a a few more cranes in the city than there have been and a lot of small resi and commercial jobs starting up. Starting to see more dirt work and dumptrucks on the road and there hasn't been any of that for three years.

Turtle3000 · 04-23-2012, 04:04 PM

I'm with ya man same story here in Colorado! Work speeds up, and people work starting in April. Usually the lay off's start in late September. I took up work as maintenance electrician for the last 2 years and it has been steadier, but it's boring as ****. It's pathetic, and I've started going to college for Computer Science because I'm feeling like its a dying trade around here. To many handymen doing there own electrical here too. Which drives prices down, and quality of work. I never used to be this way, but I turn their asses in now because they are taking work from genuine licensed guy's who do real quality work.