As someone who has twice lost a job, I can’t stress the importance of having a back-up plan to carry you over the tough times. Both times I had other (temporary) job options that I was able to take advantage of to carry me over until I was able to resume my career. So when you are considering dropping out of school (high school or post-secondary) to take that high paying manufacturing job, make sure you aren’t cutting your own throat. That good paying job may carry you 10, 15, 20 years, but what happens when there is a down-turn and you are laid off? Have you gained or upgraded you job skills (some that your employer will pay for) to improve your marketability to other employers (Tool & Die is still a wanted trade) ? Do you have secondary skills that you could fall back upon if needed?
Those who spend 25 years with a manufacturer as an unskilled worker, and suddenly find themselves unemployed in their mid 40s (translation: too young to retire), have no one to blame but themselves. Either that or put in an application at the Honda plant in Alliston. They are one of the few auto manufactures that are actually growing, not shrinking.
