Where have you seen stories about people migrating to "real" occupations?
Asked by
Jeruba (
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September 3rd, 2009
In recent months I’ve heard passing references to articles and news stories about a movement away from occupations that don’t involve touching anything real and toward more traditional work roles that involve tangible objects such as metal, wood, and dirt.
Presumably the jobs people are leaving are information jobs—jobs with computers, jobs with media, and so on: exactly the kinds of jobs that can be done anywhere (meaning outsourcing) and also those where layoffs of professionals are heavy—not such a coincidence.
The “real” jobs were, I thought, jobs involving craftsmanship, manual skill, hands-on technique of the sort that masters used to teach apprentices and that people performed with pride all their lives.
Now I would like to see some of those stories. I realize that I filled in these particulars with assumptions and imagination and didn’t actually read the articles. Is there such a trend? Where has it been written about? If you know of references to this movement (if it exists), please post links, pointers, and, of course, personal anecdotes. I am researching a story.
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11 Answers
I know as an educator that we are emphasizing students to think about vocational jobs as well as college…the recent pull for kids to go to college has left a void in fields like plumbing, welding, etc…“real” jobs. I know that alot of those pay very well and are always going to be needed. I hate that there is a stigma with teenagers about such training, when in reality alot of them get paid more than I do with a master’s degree.
I love the idea.
You need to find a new adjective.
A computer is quite “real” and “tangible”.
::feels keyboard under fingers::
Pretty sure a computer is a real thing.
My community college had a lot of these vocational programs, and one student in my English class was in the mechanics program. He did the traditional 4 year college thing but then found it wasn’t what he really wanted to do. I don’t think it’s a right or wrong thing – but what works for you.
@Jeruba I know what you’re trying to say!!!! Maybe a better word would be craftsman or vocational?
@kikibirdjones ; Good for you. I used to teach a segment at the local High Schools Senior Seminars (aka, a place to park the seniors while everyone else is doing testing.)
I am a Property manager and own apartments. I was teaching on their rights and responsibilities when getting an apartment.
I think I was the first person to admit that I knew that some of them were not going to college. The school was in one of the more affluent neighborhoods and there was a lot of pressure to go to college. So much so, that most of the kids who were not college bound dropped out.
I think it’s great that you acknowledge working with your hands as a noble profession.
My husband is one of the most brilliant people I know and he is a contractor. He is the one who does the math to make sure that your tile looks balanced in your kitchen.
He figures out how many 2X4’s, light fixtures, outlets and sheets of drywall your remodel will need. He has vision to see what things can become.
Working with your hands is not just about digging ditches (which takes a certain amount of skill to do effectively.) It is noble, valuable and necessary.
The industry that has the most ‘real’ jobs anyone could imagine is also the one with the biggest shortage of workers; medical. All levels of the medical profession are actively seeking qualified applicants, and not finding them. from nursing home aides to brain surgeons ,thousands of jobs are going wanting.
@Judi thank you!
and yarnlady….absolutely. Nursing and truck driving are consistently the most advertised in the classifieds, around here at least.
@kikibirdjones I just saw a report on the news that the trucking industry has finally filled all their positions, and there is now an abundance of drivers looking for work, probably due to the Depression, and another real job, teaching, has reached it’s limit as well. School districts all over the state are closing schools and doubling up in the rest to save money.
Thank you, @augustlan. You understood my question, which was asking for pointers to stories discussing this trend. Such stories that I’ve happened to catch have used the “real” terminology, which is why I referred to them that way. That is, news stories that have talked about this trend in those terms are the stories I’m looking for.
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