Young people are shunning an occupation that’s physically demanding and sometimes dirty, though well-paid. The consequences could be far-reaching.
Despite the decent salary, the pace at which the US is minting new plumbers is lagging retirements. The widening plumber deficit matters for households facing hefty charges to fix a leak and businesses trying to get new buildings completed on time and on budget. This shortage cost the economy about $33 billion in 2022, according to an analysis commissioned by Lixil Americas, a maker of bathroom fittings. The report projects the country will be short about 550,000 plumbers by 2027.
Good identification of "first-order" consequences.