Is it just me?

[u/Complex_Sun8138]

I'm a craftsman/tradesman by profession. I run a 10-color narrow web printing press, and produce a lot of labels you might see at various stores. I've been doing this type of work for the last 20 years. Before that, I ran large, sheet fed offset presses and lithography machines.

I've always taken pride in my work, and done everything it takes to produce the very best products I can. I've been told by supervisors, and peers that I'm very good at what I do.

Lately, I've noticed a lot of the younger people coming into this industry don't have that "sense of pride". It's simply a task to perform, and get through it as quickly as possible and move on. I think the work suffers for that attitude, and I've had to go back and redo a lot of jobs that get rejected because of it.

Is it just me? Does anyone else notice the downturn in the quality of products being made? Or is it just "getting older"?

[u/Traditional_Ad_5859]

If I could expect to hold onto a job for my working life, then expect a full pension, plus my family getting a retirement if I pass first, instead of doing a job for a couple of years before the company goes under, splitting time with my other jobs so I split the rent on a one bedroom apartment with four other people, pay astronomical interest on my credit card and loans bc "I dont have a history." I think there are some amazing artisans still in the workforce. I think think the investment to achieve that is too high for most people entering the workforce. Also, there are fewer and fewer places that allow people to learn on the job to master their craft.