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democratsruletheday

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23. SPOT on TB! My son is a welder and thank god that

Sat Nov 15, 2025, 10:44 PM

Saturday

he did attend a 2 year trade school in high school. We live in Kent County, MI near Grand Rapids and they have a marvelous trade school for high schoolers in our county called Kent Career Technical Center (KCTC) He knew he wanted to weld, entered the program and kicked butt, so much that a local commercial construction firm recruited him out of there BEFORE he even graduated high school. That was 6 months ago, and he's now 19 and is making almost $30 per hour and leads a crew to boot. He loves it and we are insanely proud of him. He's getting all his certifications at the local community college which has classes in the evening after he gets off work.

Conversely, our daughter went to a 4 year University and graduated recently with no job and questionable prospects despite us spending over 100K for her schooling. She's JUST now finding her footing by hanging out her own shingle and being self employed. She's making it and we couldn't be prouder. So we're are grateful and forever humble cuz it's UGLY out there as we all know.

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iluvtennis SamKnause fujiyamasan eppur_se_muova Native Linda ladeewolf LovelyStuff GrapesOfWrath IbogaProject

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Highlight:

Ford CEO says car giant is struggling to fill 5,000 mechanic posts despite offering $120K salary [View all] BumRushDaShow Saturday OP

Maybe AI can help. Ask Chat-GPT to grab some tools and get to work. nt Xipe Totec Saturday #1

AI, get to work. Norrrm Saturday #12

They lie, No one 'starts' at $120,000 annually... that's the top end NotHardly 17 hrs ago #38

This message was self-deleted by its author Diamond_Dog Saturday #2

So, Ford wants the U.S. taxpayer to build more trade schools Diamond_Dog Saturday #3

Ford SUCKS....always has, always will IMO democratsruletheday Saturday #19

The common people would benefit Stargazer99 Saturday #25

Sounds more like Linda ladeewolf 18 hrs ago #37

You got it, they are after the taxpayers pocket like all corps (capitalism at its finest) Stargazer99 2 hrs ago #43

Where exactly are those jobs? Dealerships? nt Phoenix61 Saturday #4

Community colleges have pretty much taken the place TexasBushwhacker Saturday #5

SPOT on TB! My son is a welder and thank god that democratsruletheday Saturday #23

There used to be excellent trade school teachers, but they've mostly retired FakeNoose 14 hrs ago #42

I guess $120k isnt enough... Mark.b2 Saturday #6

Farley is full of it. Ford is offering auto mechanics only $50k to $83k per year, not $120k. SunSeeker Yesterday #30

Many young folks assume that college anciano Saturday #7

Yeah! Accounting and programming can be done overseas via the internet. Norrrm Saturday #14

Meanwhile Trump is defunding nurses eligibility for college financial aid. live love laugh Saturday #24

German companies train their own mechanics- invest in workforce. nt delisen Saturday #8

Maybe they could train in house and Puppyjive Saturday #9

So when are all those vocational schools going to open? ananda Saturday #10

they're called "workhouses"... ret5hd Saturday #13

Am I bad for finding this funny? ananda Saturday #18

American CEOs are soulless and out-of-touch wolfie001 Saturday #11

Not that simple, unfortunately. paleotn Saturday #22

They can't see beyond their spreadsheets and the next bonus. Deuxcents Saturday #26

the apprentice system works for eons. not the trump version of course nt msongs Saturday #15

I've been a machinist for 30 years yourmovemonkey Saturday #16

For years, that's what UNIONS did. James48 Saturday #17

I'm astounded! Aussie105 Saturday #20

Farley is full of shit. Auto mechanics should, but do not generally make $120k per year. SunSeeker Saturday #21

And most US car makers have fought electrification, which eliminates some of the worst parts of the job Bluetus Yesterday #29

My dealer had a few young guys. Historic NY Saturday #27

Passing this on to my daughter, a high school guidance counselor. Joinfortmill Yesterday #28

Yes a lot of the private trade schools were shady diploma mills like ITT fujiyamasan Yesterday #31

As a former independant import mechanic I learned the hard way that the dealership shops were not to be trusted. Ford_Prefect Yesterday #32

Yes, but do they have any openings for influencers Mr. Sparkle 21 hrs ago #33

Where are these job openings for $120k? Emile 21 hrs ago #34

Is there a reason Ford can't build trade a training center? dlk 20 hrs ago #35

You will never make it in the corporate world with that attitude. twodogsbarking 19 hrs ago #36

Why be logical? dlk 15 hrs ago #41

The lifetime career prognosis for auto mechanics isn't good IbogaProject 17 hrs ago #39

Auto companies have been going the wrong direction for awhile now. NowsTheTime 16 hrs ago #40