So I've been doing a bit of research on side incomes and other options, especially given that AI nuked my go-to standard a year or so ago with writing. That broadened my understanding back into e-commerce and reselling, as well as other areas since selling isn't always a reliable income source (seasonal and highly dependent on people having money to burn buying). It also tripped me into taking a look at tradework, particularly electrical work and plumbing. I have some basic homeowner understanding of both, having solved multiple issues from fan and outside house light replacement to replacing valves, faucets and toilets. But I'm no expert by any means, just familiar with my way around a hardware store and the right end of a wrench or wire-stripper.
Looking at both, the first big hurdle of course is physical reliability and health. Neither trade has mercy for older workers when it comes to what's required physically. Apprenticeships, which range from 3 to 5 years require significant grunt work in physical conditions, cramped spaces and lifting or injury-prone conditions. 20-somethings are the ideal candidates for this, and their physicality is the minimum requirement for anyone else, especially when jobs have to be done by a deadline. Older workers might be smarter and pay attention better, but being slower is a disadvantage here. Along the same lines, the time of an apprenticeship means even if one starts at 55, journeyman status isn't going to be reached until closer to 60. That has two drawbacks; how long is a candidate expecting himself to work in the trades as he keeps getting older, and who would hire someone likely to only spend another 5 if that or maybe 10 years on the outside working? Agism is strong here simply because older workers don't offer much return on investment.
That said, let's say someone just takes on the trade anyways, and makes it to certification. Aside from the physical requirements, the trades require a lot of traveling to work sites. Anything construction means lots of living in motels or on the road since sites tend to be far away from local starting points. While residential work is possible locally, the majority of it tends to be on new home construction sites as well. Unless a candidate has a trailer to live out of, motel costs are going to add up, and they're not usually covered by employers.
Getting sick just happens more as you get older. A flu takes longer to recover from, a cold lasts a week versus days. Chronic issues create limitations, and injuries take months to heal versus weeks. This is normal, but there is no adjustment in the trades for it. The work happens when it does and while 20-somethings can show up half-healthy and power through, older workers may find it's just not doable anymore. More than a few 50-somethings who were the best of trade workers have had to quite because they couldn't keep the work pace when exhausted or sick.
The trades are definitely attractive with pay and manual skill, more so now with AI eliminating many jobs that used to be reliable fall-backs in processing, data input and accounting. The trades are promising, especially if you know your way around tools, but for us older workers looking to add to our income base or replace an old job ending, it's not as doable as many assume.
