Anybody in the trades and been laid off for awhile?
I'm a sparky, off for 5 months now. Know others are worse
off. How's the job outlook?

I'm a concrete man myself, have been laid off since November. Outlook not good! High gas prices and no job, isn't life great!

i work for a concrete company as a driver/batchman and am just getting back to work after almost 4 months off. doesn't sound like it will be busy for some time to come.

My Dad and I run our own business and have for 30 years, I've been with him for the last 12 years. We have had the last 2 weeks or so off with nothing big going yet. This is the first time I remember not working for so long, besides weather related issues.

Tima, if you're willing to travel shoot me an email (its in my profile) I may be able to help you out.

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Tima, are you a union guy? 110 or 292? You can always sign book three with the 160's, they usually put people to work for the summer. If you are willing to travel there is a large demand for JW's that are certified welders. Seems that Iowa and Illinois have been putting alot of book 2 to work lately. There's always New Orleans...., but I'd rather go to S.D.

110. But have two small children, what I would earn from
traveling would probably only pay for daycare.

We have jobs working four tens in Sioux Falls right now and will be for the forseable future. If your willing to travel to kansas they are working seven twelves out of witchita I believe and also Seattle.

I feel for ya. Since you need to stay local I would hit up local 160. We (292) won't be into book 2 for any time in the near future. Take the time off to pick up as much education from the JATC as you can. Welding, HiVolt, HVAC control, PLC and anything else you can think of. Do what you gotta do to keep food on the table.

Im an union equipment operator (49er). Been laid off since Dec 10th which is normal but with the housing market the way it is doesnt look good for going back any time soon. Lots of guys I used to work with have been told they will not be coming back at all this year. I was told I would be but havent really got a date as to when that might be. Not a good time to be a 49er, there is just no work going on right now.

Just got laid off last Tuesday, building houses is not a good thing right now. We have not built as house in a year and have been just remodeling and that stuff is running low. I hope to be back in a few weeks but like everyoone else time will tell.

I am in excavating, got laid off in the middle of Nov. Will be going back to work but who knows when and for how long. We do mostly commercial work and that is slow as well. Good luck to all, hope things pick up for all of us. Should be one heck of a fisherman by the time things get back going.

Get on the phone and call your local representatives, the MOA expansion package is on their desks. The news said it would create 7000 construction jobs for 4 years.

For who?