Posted by Hopper on 23/10/2022 13:05:22:
… But schools and tech colleges seem to have got rid of metalwork shops etc and used them as computer "workshops" instead.
It's to do with jobs. Employers want different skills. A quick check locally shows 28 vacancies:
- 2 degree level engineers
- 3 CNC
- 1 CAD
- 1 Computer
- 1 Network
- 1 Components Assembly (This is the only technical job that's not paying above average wage and doesn't require qualifications.)
The other 18 vacancies are for drivers, painters, bakers, handymen etc. No call for welders at the moment which is a bit unusual.
In this area there are no jobs for manual machinists, so why expect local colleges to run courses? Conversely, 8 of the engineering jobs listed require significant computer skills, which the college does support.
When I did metalwork at school, the local rag was full of opportunities for machinists. Pretty much all long gone. Instead my local machine shop advertises having about 30 CNC machines, plus one manual lathe and milling machine, I guess the latter two are for quick jobs too simple to justify CNC.
It's sad but there isn't much call for manual machining skills. Jobs do exist, but in much smaller numbers than before, and training tends to be done by specialist colleges or employers.
Local colleges have shifted emphasis. Mine offers full-blown courses in Mechanical Engineering, but at my age I don't fancy: 'The course studies the use of new technology in engineering but also relies heavily on the academic study of maths, science and materials engineering.' It doesn't offer hands-on metalwork, or access to manual machine which is what I want. I'm self-taught, and thank god for forum friends!
Dave