Some jobs are unsexy, and you don’t really think about them until you need them. And then, boy, you REALLY need them! Maintenance technicians are a perfect example of that.
Here are Five Fast Facts about Nebraska’s maintenance tech shortage and one practical solution:
- 🏚️What’s The Landscape? Around 3,000 multi-family units across the state open annually. And every one of them needs qualified and trained maintenance techs. Mr. Miyagi can only be in one place at a time.
- 🌊What’s The Sitch? Currently, there are more vacancies in existing complexes than people available to fill them. New complexes only compound the shortage. The dam is sprouting leaks all over, and we’re out of fingers to plug the holes!
- 🔨🔧🧰What’s The Solution? The Nebraska Maintenance Academy was formed in 2019 to address this need. It’s a program specifically designed to train people how to do maintenance, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC for multi-family units. It’s a 12-week program that costs only $4,500. Just sub out your Starbucks budget and that should just about cover it.
- 💰The Icing On The Cake - Students can start making money during the program. They split time between classroom sessions and on-site with existing maintenance workers, getting paid for their time. Demand is high enough that there’s a waitlist.
- ❓❗The Ice Cream On The Side…Kind Of - Maintenance techs in Nebraska make easily more ($52k) than the national average ($46k). Oddly, it’s still less than the median income of the state ($72k). Hmmm…🤔
🔥Bottom line: We’re not sure why this job pays so much lower than the state’s median income, but maybe that’ll change as the shortage worsens. Time will tell. But, we’re always a big fan of common sense solutions to real problems, and this fits that mold perfectly. A low-cost entry and a short on-ramp into a super hot career field with a virtual guarantee of a job at the end of it – and a Paycheck better than the national average – is a fantastic way to start (or jump start) a career!
Do you think this role is underpaid in Nebraska, or is there something else going on?
Let us know by connecting with us on Facebook and Instagram! Also, remember to share this newsletter with your friends & coworkers!
Btw, If you’ve read this far and haven’t yet signed up for the weekly Paycheckology newsletter, CLICK HERE!
