Don’t think its “technically” considered professional advice (since I’m just looking for general info), but not sure where else to turn. I have been apart of the corporate world for a while, and even though I follow all the rules, my companies consistently find ways/loopholes to screw me over.
Are there any industries or careers that are kind of easy to get into with strong union protections?
When I say “easy” I understand there will be education involved, but I already have a degree and am scared to waste more money and time (for seemingly nothing) again.
I have no desire to get rich or anything, I’m just hoping to get ideas on what I can pivot my career to so I can support myself and my loved ones without worry of the rug being pulled out from under me again.
Pretty much any “trade” job will have what you’re looking for. Most have good unions.
Probably the only trade that is the exception to that would be the trucking industry. This is where I am.
Decent pay, relatively easy to enter, but it’s a lifestyle, not so much a job and the Teamsters (the main trucking union) and I very much don’t get along. That is an understatement due to community and instance guidelines. We’ve had… words.
If you’re in the USA, I cannot understate how useful it may be to refer to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’s (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), a resource which I believe has no direct comparison:
How can I learn about an occupation that is of interest to me?
The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) provides information on what workers do; the work environment; education, training, and other qualifications; pay; the job outlook; information on state and area data; similar occupations; and sources of additional information for more than 300 occupational profiles covering about 4 out of 5 jobs in the economy.
As for answering the question, anecdotal conversations I’ve had suggest that the trades (eg glazier, electrician, plumber) in the USA are promising fields, since while the nature of the job might change with different needs, people still require electric wires and piped water. But the OOH could give you more specific outlooks for those specific trades.
I was once told that plumbers can make very serious sums of money, even if they’re only ever installing supply-side piping. That is to say, the plumbing for water supply, as compared to drainage or sewer pipe, which are generally perceived as less appealing.