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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]That’s great OP. Not every kid’s strengths lend themselves to 4 year college degrees.  The important thing, whether your kid goes the college route or not is to obtain marketable skills.

I do vocational work as part of my job.  One thing to be aware of. [b]Some skilled trades, a welding is one, are very hard on your body. By the time you are in your 50s, there is a good chance a welder has injuries or significant wear and tear and cannot physically do the job. Not everyone. But most people. [/b]

Your kid should have a plan for what happens as her ages. One great path is to take some community college business classes and start his own company and hire younger welders and transition to management  as he ages. [/quote]

Congrats to OP’s son. One huge mistake this country has made is trying to push everyone to college. The trades are hurting for people and can be a much better career path for many than wasting $$ on a four year degree that doesn’t really qualify them to do anything.

Very time this topic comes up someone posts the bolded. Of course people who work in construction or an industrial environment are going to have more injuries than someone sitting all day behind a desk, but the statement that “most people” in the trades are physically incapable of doing their job by 50 is just BS. I don’t know what kind of “vocational” work pp does, but I suspect that it exposes them to a higher % of disabled people than in the general population. I also wonder if they know people in the trades as family/personal friends, because I do. Yes, there are those with the occasional back issue, but I know lots of lawyers with bad backs, too. I also know many more lawyers with heart attacks from stress.  There are certain professions, e.g., oil field rough neck, underwater welder, that have a high injury rate, but those jobs have commensurate pay. The skilled tradespeople I know are smart enough to have younger assistants/apprentices that do the heavy lifting/less skilled work. Where you start is not where you finish. This is what convinces me that pp hasn’t actually been on any actual job sites. [/quote]

Well, I’ve never posted this before. And three things.

One, yes.  I have direct, on-site experience. I also have voc. rehab experience, so I probably am exposed to a higher % of  disabled people. But, I’ll stand by the assertion that most people cannot meet the physical demands of welding into their 50s.  And it’s not just lift/carry. There are significant postural demands which stress your spine and joints and environmental requirements, like exposure to hazards (duh), noise, fumes and extreme heat. Even if you aren’t actually injured, repetitive stress injuries are common.

This is written for perspective welders

https://job-evaluator.com/being-a-welder-pros-cons/

Here’s more technical info

https://occupationalinfo.org/81/819384010.html

A strength of M (medium) is lifting up to 50 lbs

Two,  I’m not dissing welders or any other skilled trade.  I’m not saying OP’s kid shouldn’t be a welder.  You’re right, Many professions have long term downsides. If my kid wanted to go to law school, I’d advise them to be careful about taking on too much debt to do so, because jobs that pay enough to repay the debt have crappy work conditions.   If my kid wanted to work in a restaurant kitchen, I’d have concerns about substance abuse. Etc.

I’m providing information and things to think about long term.  Welding is a very  physically demanding job, and most people’ bodies can’t stand up to 30-40 years of years of the physical demands. Things you might not even think about, like developing retinopathy or COPD can make you unemployable as a welder.

BUT, I’m not saying this should stop OP’s kid. I am saying OP’s kid should do what they can to stay in shape and protect their health. AND that they should have a long term plan that doesn’t require lifting 100 pounds at age 60. Maybe that’s saving a ton and restring early. I’d advise my kid to go to the CC and learn how to operate a small business, so that in time they can transition into a supervisory role.

3.  My kid is doing an engineering prototyping track, and is a certified welder.  So, there’s that.

[/quote]

Of course if you’re doing rehab you don’t see the healthy people. Your links don’t support your blanket statement that “most” welders are incapable of working by age 50. “Physically demanding” and “may” be injured is not that. [/quote]

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