Trades Jobs

[WillABro]

I have a lengthy construction background, amongst other things. I understand Philly is heavy union and has shed a lot of construction jobs. Yet, my experience tells me when there is a lot of development (in various neighborhoods in South Philly) there has to be a need for carpentry, painting, etc. In New York I used to pack my tools in a bag and go site to site till someone hired me. What are people doing there in Philly? Craigslist seems pretty empty.

Thanks in advance.

[Jayfar]

FWIW, the immigrant construction workers typically hang out in the Home Depot or Lowe's parking lots looking for work.

[WillABro]

FWIW, the immigrant construction workers typically hang out in the Home Depot or Lowe's parking lots looking for work.

Well, that's really nothing new there. In my 20 years on and off in the building trades there are always places to grab day labor if you know where to go. Some of those guys have skill and some do not. I am a skilled tradesman and have never had the need to hang around hardware stores. What I find discouraging about Philly's Craigslist under skilled trades is the apparent dearth of actual carpentry/painting jobs in Philly. So perhaps CL is not the place to look. With Philly neighborhoods on the upswing there are bound to be people hiring.

I have 2 streams of income from businesses my wife and I run. But I may want the option of going into the trades again. Thus I am endeavoring to see if that's a viable alternative in Philly.