Business is considered wide open. At least, that’s the myth people like to repeat — that blue-collar jobs are desperate for help, begging for apprenticeships, handing out toolbelts and pensions to practically anyone who steps in. A job seeker said the image was inaccurate.
In a Reddit post titled “No, the trades aren’t hiring,” a frustrated electrician put it bluntly: “I’m so sick and tired of this tired idea that blue collar jobs are looking for apprentices to work for them.” After hitting a wall with several companies, he said the reality looks less like opportunity and more like a closed circle of insiders — “more nepotism and gossip than any industry I’ve ever been in.”
Don’t miss:
He did not lack experience. He spent four years at an electrical company, listed extensive project work on his application, and named high-level references. Still, he was dismissed as a stranger. “I even went to my old electric company that I worked for 4 years. You know what they said? ‘Apply online and talk to HR.’ There is no manager working in the store, no chance to talk to anyone outside of identification.”
Instead of a callback, he received a rejection email a week and a half later: “Thank you for applying. After careful consideration . . .”
One of the few offers he received came from a company he described as hitting every red flag. “‘Only meth heads and divorced alcoholics work here,'” he wrote. “‘F*** OSHA.'” Everywhere else, he said, “No.” gave some version of.
And it wasn’t just a city. He said he visited every electrical company in the city. Most of them require a two-year technical or trade school degree — to offer starting pay of just $15 an hour. Even the much-hyped unions weren’t the solution: “Bro, go union!” One says inevitably. But as he points out, “unions back up for ages.”
Trend: Miss Tesla? EnergyX Facing another $200 billion opportunity – lithium
In the replies, commenters on the thread echoed the frustration, not only in business but in careers. One user noted that the same tired cycle appeared everywhere: “Every market and everyone and their mother will have a ‘learn to code’ version,” referring to how each sector is touted as a magic bullet but doesn’t deliver.
Another joked that the answer for a while in the industry was “go to law school,” and health workers shared their own instability, with one saying they almost faced furloughs because Medicare reimbursements had dried up.
Some in IT said they face similar barriers even with in-demand technical skills, and a pharmacist described multiple jobs in a short period of time. Another commenter pointed out that jobs in health care and administration can also be difficult to secure, with employers citing distance from the workplace as a reason for rejecting candidates.
A broader job market helps explain some of this discrepancy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 7.7 million jobs opened in October — a high number overall, but not evenly distributed across industries, and not always meaningfully accessible to applicants without special credentials or connections. At the same time, unemployment is near historic lows but has risen slightly as the labor market shows signs of softening, with the broad average masking pockets of intense competition and stagnant hiring processes for some roles.
Also See: This Jeff Bezos-Backed Startup Will Let You Become a landlord in just 10 minutes, with a minimum investment of as little as $100.
In trades in particular, demand data tells a mixed story. Many sectors such as HVAC, electrical, and plumbing are projected to create openings as infrastructure jobs and retirements over the next decade. But that increase doesn’t automatically translate into accessible entry points for every applicant. Employers often list openings that are not filled for reasons ranging from credential requirements to slow hiring pipelines. Moreover, job openings across the U.S. still outnumber workers, suggesting that getting a foot in the door is harder than the headlines indicate.
Knowing how to wire a panel and having experience doesn’t guarantee a shot at the job. Despite the traditional message that the trades are a steady path with apprenticeship and union paths, his experience showed that many companies still prefer paperwork, screens, and gatekeeping to actually bring in and mentor new talent.
In a job market that feels unpredictable and uneven, what looks like an opportunity on the surface, can be another maze of forms, filters and dead ends for many applicants – even in areas people are said to be desperate for workers.
Read Next: Americans Can Quadruple Their Wealth With Financial Planning – Get your personalized plan from CFP Pro
Image: Shutterstock
Unlocked: 5 new trades every week. Click now to get daily top business ideasPlus unlimited access to the latest tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets.
Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga:
This article ‘Just Go Union’? An electrician applied to every company in his town and says the blue-collar apprentice pipeline is dilapidated, backlogged, and gatekeeping. The original appeared on Benzinga.com.
© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
