wesley_adams•26d agoMost Upvoted

Just found out the average age of a dredge operator in the US is 56

I was looking through some Bureau of Labor Statistics data last night while trying to figure out how my retirement timeline lines up with the industry. Turns out the median age for us is 56 years old. That shocked me because I always figured we had a good mix of younger guys coming in. But apparently the entry numbers are pretty low and a lot of the old hands are hanging on for a few more years. I started this work at 24 and now I'm 48 so I guess I'm part of that older group now. It makes me wonder what this trade is going to look like in 10 years when half the workforce retires. Has anyone else noticed it getting harder to find reliable younger operators for your crew?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_linda26d ago

Well that explains why every morning feels like I'm walking into a retirement party that hasn't started yet. Makes you wonder if they're gonna have to start training dolphins to run the draglines when the old guard finally hangs it up. At least by the time the rest of them retire, my back will be too broken to care.

the_william26d ago

Nah, the old heads actually know where all the shortcuts are buried.

the_richard26d ago

Huh, I used to think experience was overrated but you might be right...