'Yeah, No. It's Low Wages,' A Worker Responds To Whether The Skilled Labor Shortage Is Just Because Everyone Was 'Told To Go To College'

For years, people have debated why there aren't enough skilled workers to fill all the open trade jobs in the U.S. A Reddit thread this week on r/jobs asked a simple question: Is the skilled labor shortage because everyone was told to go to college?

Today's Best Finance Deals

The College Push Was Real, But Not the Whole Story

Plenty of commenters said yes, the college push was intense. One user recalled, “Graduated HS in ’06. Anything outside of the college pipeline was painted as a bad idea to me. Trade work and apprentice programs were talked about as if they were slave labor/scams.”

Don't Miss:

• Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – with $1,000 you can invest at just $0.26/share!
• Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — this is your last chance to become an investor for $0.80 per share.

Another said, “As a 2007 graduate, all we were told in school was to go to college. The trades were not discussed at all.”

But that's just one part of the puzzle. Many pointed out that skilled labor jobs come with real downsides: physically punishing work, inconsistent hours, and pay that often doesn't reflect the toll it takes on the body.

One user shared, “Worked in the trades for 5 years out of college. Ruined my back and wrists. Have a cushy office design job now… I will never go back.”

‘You'll Look 50 at 40’

The most upvoted comment came from a user who said, “People hear the ‘just join a trade, you'll make 6 figures‘ meme and don't realize your first few years you don't make much, the work is hard, and the hours are brutal.” They added, “You'll look 50 at 40 and 75 at 55. Your knees, back, and hands will be a disaster by 50.”

Trending: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement — How do you compare?

Others echoed that. One said that the risk of injury is so much worse than in an office job: “It's not a matter of if, but a matter of when, depending on the severity of your job, and the carelessness of others around you.”

No Shortage, Just Bad Offers

A recurring theme was that employers often blame a “labor shortage” when they just don't want to pay better. “There is no skilled labor shortage. Only an abundance of resume farming,” one user wrote. “Employers hold the power to frame the job market the way they see fit.”

Another added that their company laid off half the maintenance crew, kept production running with forced overtime, and then claimed they “can't find any skilled labor.”

As one bluntly put it: “Yeah, no. It's low wages. Especially here in Oklahoma. This state is set up to protect business owners and to be able to take advantage of employees.”

See Also: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — invest pre-IPO from $0.60 per share now.

Training Barriers and Broken Promises

Even those who try to get into trades say it's not that simple. One said they applied to a steamfitter apprenticeship but had to wait months just to get an interview.

Another mentioned, “If you want to make real money in any industry, you have to continue learning new things… But no company out there is going to pay more than base for a worker who only has the basic training.”

And while success stories do exist, they're the exception. One user warned that the high-paying union gigs are rare. Most people in the trades are making just above fast-food wages.

Others highlighted systemic issues. High schools cut shop classes, training programs are expensive, and some trades are still unwelcoming to women, minorities, and LGBTQ workers.

As one put it, “College is now the be-all and end-all. Everyone is forced to take out six-figure student loans for a piece of paper that doesn't even guarantee them a job, much less success.”

Read Next:

• If You're Age 35, 50, or 60: Here’s How Much You Should Have Saved Vs. Invested By Now
• Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!

Image: Shutterstock