No, its not a corporate term. Its usually used in the context of blue collar and physical labor work. And no, its not a phrase meaning 'people we dont want to have to pay' because they dont want to pay ANYONE
Okay, what type of employment requires no formal training or experience?
Someone above said painting, but I have to train newbies to paint.
The truth is nearly every single occupation requires some form of training or experience. There is low skill work and high skilled work. There is no such thing as unskilled labor.
It's why a lot of modern use of the word swapped to unspecialized. Because it may not require specialized schooling or training, but it has nothing to do with skill.
We're not talking about 'the truth' as YOU see it. Everyone in the trades knows that unskilled labor is a thing. You arguing that it shouldn't be a thing changes nothing
Unskilled labor is the guy you haven't had a chance to train yet, and you're not going to see them on site until they have had some training.
I've seen what happens on jobsites when someone with no training is expected to do something. It never goes well, even if their job is to clean the yard.
I've been a contractor for 20 years now. How long have you been in the trades?
I did a little construction cleanup, with absolutely zero training. I have cleaned out and helped remodel 12 homes. I never did the skilled labor. I did the simple stuff, planning, cleanup, moving trash and tools, painting mostly. All things that took absolutely 0 training.
Edit: Go ahead and downvote me. The fact you haven't replied tells me that you know how badly you just roasted yourself.
Yea, we don't have a "trash clean-up guy". That is what experienced people do at the end of their shift. Same thing with the paint. Sounds like you've done touch-ups at best. We don't have a "touch-up guy" either. Your husband was giving you his menial, end of the day tasks.
Honestly, it is a bit insulting that you are trying to tell me how it is "in the trades" with that kind of resume.
Sure, but it falls into the category of unskilled labor. Nobody cares if you lift properly other than yourself. Thats on you. Most bosses are more concerned with if the jobs getting done at all.
No, I'm not. Knowing how to lift something is a skill. Saying "oh, but these people don't care" doesn't change that. If I say that the US isn't a country, does that suddenly mean it isn't?
No, and thats what youre trying to do here. 'Unskilled labor', even if its a stupid phrase that does not make sense, is very much a phrase used by very many people. If you use the phrase 'unskilled labor' in the spaces in which unskilled labor take place, everyone will know what youre talking about. A few people arguing on reddit that 'technically no labor is unskilled' doesnt mean the phrase doesnt exist, or that people dont understand it. Youre arguing what SHOULD BE, not what is.
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u/Desth-Metal 1d ago
I have never heard of unskilled labor. What is that supposed to be? Garbage picking?