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Comment by Phrodo_00 | Hacker News Reader

While the article did a lot of pointing at men not working, it did little to show what the Hole in the "Hot U.S. Market" was. Maybe the people they were talking about would benefit from that information.

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There are a TON of Blue collar jobs that are only getting higher pay in the Seattle area right now. Entry level Electrician, 25/hr. After the Apprenticeship 50/hr (2 years I think). I believe plumbing, construction, etc are in the same boom right now.

That's a really awesome job for someone who is struggling to make ends meet at a pizza joint (example from article). This is 100% anecdotal and regional. So take it with a grain of salt.

Similar prices to be had around NoVA / DC. Data center electricians with 2 years experience were at 35/hr, and the Master electricians with experience were roughly double.

No shit, I was a data center manager then and contemplated switching jobs.

Source: I hired both union and non-union (union guys on the side) for electrical work in DC area data centers.

My brother-in-law is a journeyman electrician in Seattle and the going rate is around 40-45/hour. Not a bad wage at all. But it does require about four years to get to that point.

> Weary of long days earning minimum wage, he quit his job in a pizzeria in June.

Given these are the types of jobs these men are leaving, and assuming these are the types of jobs still available, it's these jobs.

The market is hot because jobs are available. It's not hot because good jobs are available.

Right. What exactly are all those "hot" jobs these men are supposedly refusing? Very frustrating framing.

It's not the jobs themselves that are hot, it's the job market that is. We have low unemployment, but for some reason this demographic remains at a higher rate of unemployment than their age-wise peers from a decade ago, while other demographics have recovered or surpassed their prior numbers.

The hole is the 500k or so men who aren't working now (in the 25-34 year old demographic) who were working before the recession (well, the calculated amount based on percentage of that demographic who were working pre-recession versus who are working now). While other demographics (35-44 yo men and women, 25-34 yo women) have recovered (or done better) than pre-recession rates. And given the overall low unemployment figures, the question is why does this demographic seem to be missing out on the recovery?

I wonder about the distribution within. Men are known to have a higher standard deviation in IQ. Perhaps it is a sign of hidden if not disabilities relative appitude disadvantages or relative socialization maladjustment - no judgement as to who is wrong if any.

I personally had one hell of a time going through the hiring process despite my credentials.

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