Latest news in MA: shortage of trades people, carpenter, plumber, electrician, furniture makers, even people who make musical instruments, think violin and the wonderful sounds that come from those. Still schools push college, college college and more student debt and now, free college for all. News flash, ya'll go be doctors, lawyers, scientists, teachers, etc; there ain't gonna be no one to build your home, the environment, think plumbing, that toilet flush has to go somewhere. With the shortage comes longer time to get somethings done, which means time and as time passes by, costs go up. Think that big pine tree comes down on your house, it is winter, it is cold out and you need roof repaired, electric and maybe even the porta john fixed; sorry, will be 3 months before we can get someone out there, we only got 10 people. Trades means you can often apprentice, get paid while you learn, schooling is through public vocational schools. Check what a plumber makes, want to upgrade your home, who you gonna call? You build or help build a home, you get to stand there and see what you did. stay with carpentry, become finish carpenter/cabinet maker and your earning power goes up; get a reputation of quality work, you will be writing your own ticket. Yup, you get dirty, you make work off hours, but these are options to be considered