Blue Collar and Proud of It: The All-In-One Resource for Finding Freedom, Financial Success, and Security Outside the Cubicle (13 page)

Elevator installers lift and carry heavy equipment and parts, and they may work in cramped spaces. Potential hazards include falls and electrical shock. Most of their work is performed indoors. Installers typically work standard hours, but repairs are unpredictable and service calls are made at all times of the day or night.

Training and Certification

Most elevator installers receive their education through an apprenticeship program.High schoolmathematics, science, and shop are quite helpful. Many of these programs can be found through unions. The apprenticeships often last for four years and combine paid, on-site training with classroom instruction. Most cities and states require installers and repairers to pass a licensing exam.

Those who complete an apprenticeship registered by their state board or by theU.S.Department of Labor can earn a journey worker certificate, an advanced certification, which is recognized nationwide and is considered an asset. Aswithmany occupations, ongoing training is crucial for installers and repairers to keep up with technological developments in the industry.

The Numbers

Elevator installers and repairers had about 22, 000 jobs in 2006. Most were employed by specialty contractors, such as elevator companies. Employment in this industry is expected to increase by about 9 percent, or by close to 2, 000 jobs, between 2006 and 2016. Demand will largely depend on growth in commercial construction, which is expected to increase.The need to update and repair older equipment also adds to the work demand.

Elevator installers and repairers are some of the highest paid in the construction trades, withmedian hourly wages at $30.59 as ofMay 2006. The top 10 percent earned more than $42.14. About 75 percent of the people working in this trade are union members.

FABRICATION AND ASSEMBLY

I’ve said it before, but today’s factories are not your grandma’s factories. For themost part, gone are the days of the dark, dingy assembly lines that you’ve probably seen portrayed in oldmovies. Instead, the plants are often pleasant environments, well-lit and clean.

Assemblers and fabricators play a crucial role in the manufacturing industry. They assemble finished products and the smaller components used to put together everything from household appliances and automobiles to computers and other electronic devices.

The Work

Changes in technology have transformed the manufacturing and assembly process sincemany factories rely on automated systems, robots, computers, or programmable devices. The more advanced assemblers must be able to work with these new technologies while continuing to adapt to the inevitable changes of the future.

The job of an assembler or fabricator ranges fromrather easy to quite complicated and requires a range of knowledge and skills. Those who put together complexmachinesmust be able to read detailed blueprints or directions. Assemblers may also be responsible for basic welding or soldering. Quality control is important on assembly lines, and people must be alert and pay close attention to detail in an effort to spot defective parts. In this spirit, assemblers must follow instructions carefully, which requires excellent reading skills and the ability to understand diagrams. Manual dexterity is important, as is the ability to complete repetitive tasks quickly and methodically. It’s possible that some of these positions would include heavy lifting.

Manufacturing lines are different beasts than what they used to be. An effort has beenmade to streamline the process so thatmore is accomplished at each stage.Rather than only putting together two parts, as was common years ago, an assembler may be required to perform multiple stages of the assembly process. Some experienced assemblers work with designers and engineers to build prototypes or test products. These assemblersmust be able to read and interpret complex engineering specifications from text, drawings, and computer-aided drafting systems. They may also need to use a variety of tools and precision measuring instruments.

Work Setting

The work environment for assemblers and fabricators varies. It used to be more physically demanding, but automated equipment and processes have changed that. Factory conditions can vary, but generally they are clean, well-lit places to work. Some are near sterile, if not totally dust- and dirt-free. But others require that assemblers still come in contact with oil and grease or work in loud manufacturing plants.

Training and Certification

Typically a high school diploma or GED is sufficient formuch of this industry, and on-the-job training is usually the way most people learn. But additional training is needed for advanced assemblywork, such as for electronics or aircraft and motor vehicle manufacturers. As assemblers and fabricators becomemore experienced, theymay progress to jobs that require greater skill and can be given more responsibility. Experienced assemblers often advance to become product repairers.

The Numbers

Assemblers and fabricators held nearly 2.1million jobs in 2006.They worked in almost every industry, but 75 percent were inmanufacturing. Assembly of transportation equipment—such as aircrafts, cars, and buses—accounted for 19 percent of all jobs, while those putting together computers and electronic products accounted for another 11 percent.

Employment of assemblers and fabricators is projected to decline slowly, by about 4 percent between 2006 and 2016, primarily due to foreign competition in manufacturing and the fact that some of these jobs are being outsourced to overseas workers. Thatmeans about 80, 000 jobs will be lost fromthe industry. That said, themanufacturing industry has been vocal about needingmore skilledworkers, whichmeans that people who have trainingwill be at an advantage. Interestingly, the aircraft industry is expected to add jobs during this same time period, thanks to the demand for new military and commercial planes.

As of May 2006, the median hourly wage of team assemblers was $11.63, with the highest 10 percent of earnersmakingmore than $19.14. Earnings of electrical and electronic equipment assemblers were $12.29 an hour, with the highest 10 percent making more than $19.81.

FISHING

Before the reality show
Deadliest Catch
, many people probably never thought about becoming crab fishers. What with the frigid waters, dark skies, and stormy seas, the life of a fisher can be tough and wet and will often keep you out on the ocean for weeks at a time. But thanks to the show, people are talking about what it takes to reel in a hefty catch and are amazed at how brave the men and women are who fish our waters. The solace of the sea and the art of fishing certainly have their appeal.

In New England I see a lot of fisherman, whether they’re out collecting lobster traps close to the shores or heading out toward the Stellwagen Bank, made famous by the book and then movie
Perfect Storm
. Commercial fishing doesn’t even resemble the sport fishingmany of us do on lakes, while half-watching the end of our rods and listening to a ball game on the radio. I probably don’t need to say this, but to fish for a living you have to live on a coast—the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, or Pacific Ocean. But before you pick up and relocate, be sure you aren’t prone to getting seasick and be sure that this is really a job for you.

We’ll talkmore in Chapter 5 about sustainable fishing and the various issues facing the fishing industry when we look at green jobs. Unfortunately, small fishing operations are having a rough time competing with the larger companies, but the hope is that more and more sustainable fishers can survive based on consumer demand for fish that have been caught responsibly.

“We talk about how we’re going to recruit, ” says Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman’s Association, who says it’s not common to find young adults going into fishing. “For people who are willing to work hard and take on challenges, this can be very, very rewarding. It can be extremely lucrative and it can be adventuresome.”