A tradesperson or tradesman/ tradeswoman is a skilled worker that specialises in a particular trade. Tradespeople (tradesmen/women) usually gain their through work experience, on-the-job training, an apprenticeship program or formal education.
As opposed to a master craftsman or an artisan, a tradesperson (tradesman/tradeswoman) is not necessarily restricted to Manual labour.
History
In Victorian England, The terms "skilled worker," "craftsman," "artisan," and "tradesman" were used in senses that overlap. All describe people with specialized training in the skills needed for a particular kind of work. Some of them produced goods that they sold from their own premises (e.g.
, saddlers,
Hatmaking,
,
); others (e.g.
,
Bookbinding,
Wheelwright) were employed to do one part of the production in a business that required a variety of skilled workers. Still others were factory hands who had become experts in some complex part of the process and could command high wages and steady employment. Skilled workers in the building trades (e.g.
Carpentry, masons,
Plumber, plasterers, glaziers, painters etc.) were also referred to by one or another of these terms.
[Sally Mitchell, Daily Life in Victorian England (Greenwood: 1996), p. 60.]
One study of Caversham, New Zealand, at the turn of the century notes that a skilled trade was considered a trade that required an apprenticeship to entry.[Erik Olssen, Building the New World: Work, Politics, and Society in Caversham, 1880s–1920s (Auckland University Press, 1995), pp. 47–49.] Skilled tradesmen worked either in traditional handicraft workshops or newer factories that emerged during the Industrial Revolution.
Modern use and list of skilled trades
Tradespeople are contrasted with
Laborer,
Agriculture workers, and
(those in the learned professions).
[Whitney, William D., ed.. "Trade." Def, 7. The Century Dictionary: An Encyclopedic Lexicon of the English Language vol. 8. New York. The Century Co. 1895. 6,415.] Skilled tradespeople are distinguished:
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from laborers such as bus drivers, truck drivers, cleaning laborers, and landscapers in that the laborers "rely heavily on physical exertion" while those in the skilled trades rely on and are known for "specific knowledge, skills, and abilities."
[Wanda J. Campbell & Robert A. Ramos, "Blue-collar Selection in Private Sector Organizations" in Handbook of Employee Selection (eds. James L. Farr, Nancy T. Tippins: Taylor & Francis 2010), p. 741.] Both types of work, however, are considered blue-collar.
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from Professional in that the professionals require more education and have a higher duty of care
[Robert D. Sprauge, "Liability for System and Data Quality" in Social, Ethical and Policy Implications of Information Technology (eds. Linda L. Brennan & Victoria Elizabeth Johnson: Idea Group: 2004), p. 194)] and routinely make decisions "on the basis of expertise and ability in complex situations where there may be no, or little, previous history."[Christopher Lawless, Forensic Science: A Sociological Introduction (Routledge, 2016), p. 62.]
Trades list
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Carpentry - woodworking, framing, Door/window, drywall, insulation, flooring, siding, finishing work, cabinetry, furniture.
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Plumbing - , piping and plumbing fitting, water heating, steamfitter, GreenPlumbers, and drain cleaner.
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Electrician - wiring, light fixture/major appliance, solar power installation, electric motor/generator technician, electronics technician, lineworker.
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Welding - MIG, TIG, stick, , welding symbols, and metalworking.
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Masonry - concrete work, /Concrete block/Stonemasonry, Power trowel, and Tile.
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HVAC - Central heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and duct work.
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Painting - staining, wallpaper, paint mixing, plasterwork, and spackling paste.
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Roofing - Roof shingle, standing seam metal roof, corrugated metal roof, solar roofs, rubber shingles, Rain gutter.
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Machinist - machining, Metal lathe, milling, , Grinding machine, and CNC machining.
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Mechanic - auto mechanic/restoration/scrapping, Refrigerator/air conditioning, boiler, millwright, elevator mechanic.
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Metal fabrication - machinist, Metal lathe, milling, , Grinding machine, and CNC machining.
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Sewing - Sewing machine, hand stitching, embroidery, tailor, quilting, fashion design, Costume designer, 3D clothes modeling, upholstery, knitting, tapestry, crochet.
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Culinary arts chef - baker, Meat market\fishmonger, deli, cheesemonger, sushi itamae, and cook.
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Telecommunications technician - tower technician, directional boring, fiber-optic/Coaxial cable, utility pole technician, satellite dish installer.
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Automation technician - PLCs, instrumentation calibration, assembly line/production line, industrial installation and maintenance.
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Semiconductor technician
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Heavy equipment operators - excavator, front-end loader, bulldozer, grader, skid-steer, cranes, feller buncher, paver, articulated hauler/dump truck.
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CAD technician - drafter, architect, industrial design, CAD/CAM/BIM.
Earnings and social standing
A British study found that, after taking student loan repayments into account, a higher apprenticeship (at level 5 in the national qualifications frameworks) delivered higher lifetime median earnings than a degree from a university outside the
Russell Group. Despite this, polling for the report found that apprenticeships have a lower perceived value than bachelor's degrees.
Data from the United States shows that vocational education can provide a respectable income at a lesser cost in time and money for training. Even ten years after graduation, there are many people with a certificate or associate degree who earn more money than those with a B.A.
The average taxable income for the top trades in Australia can be up to $100,000, while the average for all Australians is $85,800.
See also
