Big Ford EV Announcement Coming Aug 11th

[OVERKILL]

Let's just say they did. I had incredible teachers that wrote to my parents and took me aside showing me IQ tests and much more. Part of the problem was I believed them.
My situation was of my own making; for that I am responsible. Teachers and other can lead, but it is up to the individual to pick up the tools. I chose to pick up a bottle and crawl inside for many years.

I can identify with this. However, had I been pushed toward engineering, which is something I now have a strong interest in, I would probably have a totally different career. But I didn't know I was interested in nuclear until I was in my late 20's, early 30's, though perhaps engineering would have taken me there if I had gone that route?

I don't believe the German system pushes you toward a specific career, it determines what your strengths are and then pushes you in a direction that exploits those, but the options within that realm are extensive.

Ultimately Silicon Valley management gave me a chance; they were incredible teachers and encouraged me to run with my tasks. Then they rewarded me with many things, including more work. I flat-out loved it.

I appreciate your kind words.

You were lucky, but, you were also smart, so, despite your missteps, there was potential in you that others saw. Some people simply don't have that in a quantity sufficient enough to warrant giving them the same sort of chances you got.

 

[Trav]

I don't believe the German system pushes you toward a specific career, it determines what your strengths are and then pushes you in a direction that exploits those, but the options within that realm are extensive.

Exactly! It really is great system for both university and the trades but as you said manufacturing and a lot of heavy industry has been moved either offshore or to the former eastern countries but it seems there is still enough work for most of the tradesmen.

 

[SC Maintenance]

The thing is we know for certain , inside the USA there is no shortage (at least not around my area) of working age males who apparently have decided and found a way to survive with absolutely ZERO intention of ever working for living. I sure would like to know how they are doing it and where the money comes from. I would guess? hope and even pray it is not all "drug dealer" money financed.

Within the last several years we have had major industries attempt to build big manufacturing job facilities within about a 35 mile area from where I am. Every time , there is a certain group of women who have these (I call them ambulance chaser lawyers) file lawsuits to stop them and I have been told , each time the companies say it is not worth the fight - goodbye! We can go elsewhere. Now there are the same women who never miss a chance to get in the media and moan and cry about all sorts of social issues and boo who underrepresented communities and social and economical inequality while they keep succeeding in running off giant opportunities for many new jobs and all the benefits to the communities they won't stop complaining about. It is all so very frustrating. Of course I am retired and cant work anyway - disabled now. But it is sad how these small groups keep messing things up for people who want and need work. I have heard they have several times got paid off and essentially bribed to shut up and back off to some of the few minor businesses they suddenly shut up about and did not protest or file suits against. It all sounds so very self centered, greedy and sleazy and is only hurting the communities and the people they have so many fooled into thinking they are doing "anything" to better the area.

Labor force participation for 20-24 year olds is higher than anytime before 1970, and as high as its been since 2010. So not sure your observations are indicative unless its all women. Many might be doing gig jobs however - Uber, walmart deliveries, etc, so it may appear there doing nothing but maybe they are.

Overall labor force participation curve looks pretty close to the 20-24 YO one below - basically peaked in the 90's and has never returned.

What very general part of the deep south is not wanting factories? South Carolina is a manufacturing meca - all parts of the state pretty much now.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Just a bit of info that shows we have more than enough men who could fill jobs across the USA if only one thing changes. The attitude of not wanting or feeling a need to work.

https://www.newsweek.com/american-men-dont-want-work-anymore-1897567

 

[SC Maintenance]

Just a bit of info that shows we have more than enough men who could fill jobs across the USA if only one thing changes. The attitude of not wanting or feeling a need to work.

https://www.newsweek.com/american-men-dont-want-work-anymore-1897567

Just narratives.

Labor force participation rate is higher than any time before 1977. What was wrong with everyone then? Honest question, I wasn't around - or I was but just.

Reality is many more women in the workforce means fewer men needed. Strong back is no longer required for most jobs. If you think its bad now, wait till AI takes hold. You haven't seen anything yet.

 

[Torrid]

Labor force participation for 20-24 year olds is higher than anytime before 1970, and as high as its been since 2010. So not sure your observations are indicative unless its all women. Many might be doing gig jobs however - Uber, walmart deliveries, etc, so it may appear there doing nothing but maybe they are.

Overall labor force participation curve looks pretty close to the 20-24 YO one below - basically peaked in the 90's and has never returned.

What very general part of the deep south is not wanting factories? South Carolina is a manufacturing meca - all parts of the state pretty much now.

View attachment 302946

There are a lot of manufacturing jobs here in Wisconsin too. Generac and John Deere have massive operations here. We also have Kraft and Richelieu Foods right in town as well and it's only a town of 16k people. John Deere is 8 miles away and it takes up like half of the the small town it's in. What that means for our demographic is most jobs are in the lower middle class area for income. I drive 40 miles to work to make more. So many talk about how many jobs we've sent overseas but we're making so many cars, tractors, and generators right in the US.

 

[JeffKeryk]

There are a lot of manufacturing jobs here in Wisconsin too. Generac and John Deere have massive operations here. We also have Kraft and Richelieu Foods right in town as well and it's only a town of 16k people. John Deere is 8 miles away and it takes up like half of the the small town it's in. What that means for our demographic is most jobs are in the lower middle class area for income. I drive 40 miles to work to make more. So many talk about how many jobs we've sent overseas but we're making so many cars, tractors, and generators right in the US.

We have manufacturing here too. Tesla Fremont has over 25,000 employees and is always hiring. Good pay and benefits attracts people.
Now, there used to be a lot more manufacturing back in the day...

 

[JeffKeryk]

You were lucky, but, you were also smart, so, despite your missteps, there was potential in you that others saw. Some people simply don't have that in a quantity sufficient enough to warrant giving them the same sort of chances you got.

Yes I was lucky to be in a place where opportunity abounds, and I was a fit for the business need at the time. I embraced that.
Smart? Lotta smart people... I was desperate. Homelessness can be one heck of a motivator. Seriously.

Certainly not all companies offer the same opportunity. At Novellus (wafer deposition), the CEO Rick Hill believed in people! His motto was reward effort and moreso reward results. And he did. My contributions were effective custom database development and requisite front-end interfaces for worldwide use, but mainly the ability to talk to the business. "I am not gonna give you what you want; I am gonna give you what you need."

Novellus was bought out by Lam Research in 2012; Lam is a great company but I am not sure I would have been offered the same opportunity.

There have been a few posts referencing Germany... Novellus sent me to Rendsberg up in the North to work with the team at Peter Wolters, now Lapmaster-Wolters. Beautiful country, wonderful people. Man do they know how to eat! I was given a brand new, drop dead gorgeous, black-on-black Audi A6 to run up the Autobahn... OMG.

 

[loneryder]

Could you recall the model year?
I love the fact that they made YOU a stripper.
When you did unload it, did the sale cover the income taxes incurred?

It would have been an early 80’s model. I put it for sale right away. I didn’t get a 1099 so no income tax but had to pay sales tax.

 

[loneryder]

Could you recall the model year?
I love the fact that they made YOU a stripper.
When you did unload it, did the sale cover the income taxes incurred?

This is the color. It didn’t have the vinyl roof which everyone wanted.

 

[Kira]

No video appeared, but thanks anyway.

 

[zzyzzx]

So then why doesn't Ford hire a bunch of kids out of High School and train them? That is what big companies used to do.

There are YouTube videos about why companies don't want to train workers anymore....

 

[SC Maintenance]

There are YouTube videos about why companies don't want to train workers anymore....

Let me guess. blah blah blah kids are awful these days. More youtube narratives.

Old people think they were perfect when they were young. Revisionist history. Every generation does it.

 

[zzyzzx]

Let me guess. blah blah blah kids are awful these days. More youtube narratives.

Old people think they were perfect when they were young. Revisionist history.

Companies rarely provide an incentive for employees to stay (I.E. - no raises or pension, etc.), and don't want to train people if they are just going to quit and go to work for someone else for more money anyway.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Companies rarely provide an incentive for employees to stay (I.E. - no raises or pension, etc.), and don't want to train people if they are just going to quit and go to work for someone else for more money anyway.

Yes, this is true. But young people watched those older then them work somewhere 20 years and then immediately get let go as soon as the economy softened. Or they moved stuff to Mexico or China. They exchanged pensions which were too "expensive" for employee funded 401K's which were portable.

Loyalty works both ways.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Companies rarely provide an incentive for employees to stay (I.E. - no raises or pension, etc.), and don't want to train people if they are just going to quit and go to work for someone else for more money anyway.

That's not my experience. Of course it depends on the employee as well.

 

[SC Maintenance]

That's not my experience. Of course it depends on the employee as well.

How long have you been retired? When did you sign on with your last company?

Also if you hold proprietary info that would help your competitor then you’re more important. Not as much about skill as risk.

 

[JeffKeryk]

How long have you been retired? When did you sign on with your last company?

Also if you hold proprietary info that would help your competitor then you’re more important. Not as much about skill as risk.

I've been retired for a few years now.
I was laid off after almost 20 years from Lam Research after they acquired Novellus. I think I was at Lam for about 2 years in support of the acquisition.
An ex-Novellus manager was a VP at another local company; he hired me for another 6 years. Then I retired.

I was an insider at Novellus because I was responsible for the Corporate Forecast. I coded the application.

I cannot speak for others, but I believe in, and practice, loyalty. Novellus took very good care of me. I consider myself very lucky to have landed there.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I've been retired for a few years now.
I was laid off after almost 20 years from Lam Research after they acquired Novellus. I think I was at Lam for about 2 years in support of the acquisition.
An ex-Novellus manager was a VP at another local company; he hired me for another 6 years. Then I retired.

I was an insider at Novellus because I was responsible for the Corporate Forecast. I coded the application.

I cannot speak for others, but I believe in, and practice, loyalty. Novellus took very good care of me. I consider myself very lucky to have landed there.

So your boss at Novellus was very loyal - enough to hire you elsewhere. Very good. I had a boss that did the same thing - well he stole me from the first company I worked with him at. Boss is much more important than company.

Novellus may have been loyal. Lam - definitely not loyal.

If some companies used to be loyal, and I suspect even back then they were not, they certainly are not today.

 

[zzyzzx]

That's not my experience. Of course it depends on the employee as well.

Then you either work in government, a unionized environment, or a company that is not normal. I've worked so many places that don't do raises (or tiny raises that are insults, like less than 1%) that I would consider a company that does actual raises to be a freak of nature.