Become a miner. The
Wall Street Journal explains:
MANDURAH, Australia—One of the fastest-growing costs in the global
mining industry are workers like James Dinnison: the 25-year-old
high-school dropout from Western Australia makes $200,000 a year running
drills in underground mines to extract gold and other minerals.
The heavily tattooed Mr. Dinnison, who started in the mines seven
years ago earning $100,000, owns a sky-blue 2009 Chevy Ute, which cost
$55,000 before a $16,000 engine enhancement, and a $44,000 custom
motorcycle. The price tag on his chihuahua, Dexter, which yaps at his
feet: $1,200.
... Mr. Dinnison
belongs to a class of nouveau riche rising in remote and mineral-rich
parts of the world, such as Western Australia state, where mining
companies are investing heavily to develop and expand iron-ore mines.
Demand for those willing to work 12-hour days in sometimes dangerous
conditions, while living for weeks in dusty small towns, is huge...
Behind this need for mine workers is a construction boom in China and
other emerging economies that has ramped up the demand for iron ore,
used to make steel, and other metals used in construction, such as
copper, typically used for wiring buildings...
More at the link. By the way, is he a wealthy man now? Well, not exactly...
Despite having earned roughly US$1 million since he started [7 years ago], he has no
savings and doesn't apologize. "The mines are so dull, that when you get
back here, everything is stimulation and excitement," he said. "The
money I spend supports other businesses because of the [stuff] I blow it
on."
People like him are exactly what countries need to boost their economies.
my cousin is a welder in Western Australia. Despite a massive drug habit in the past, and the odd conviction, he has no problems at all finding jobs that pay 100k AU$.
ReplyDeleteHe also knows how to repair the big mining trucks, but his last job was basically greasing a huge conveyor belt that brings ore to the coast for shipping.
Savings? What for?
In this same vein, I highly recommend last friday's Planet Money podcast about Elko, NV:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/11/11/142254535/the-friday-podcast-boom-town
The first part, about two young girls who are going to open up a truck repair shop is pretty inspiring.
"People like him are exactly what countries need to boost their economies."
ReplyDeleteAnd to destroy them when these individuals hit a place where they must support themselves but have no money with which to do so. Suppose this man is injured by some of the equipment he works with and is disabled. How will he support himself?
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Deletenorth dakota is having a big boom
ReplyDeletehttp://pattyinglishms.hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Hot-Jobs-in-New-Town-Oil-Boom-2010
My town in Queensland is (among other things) also a large support base for fly in/fly out mine workers. They constitute a significant proportion of my chiropractic patient base.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, he's an Aussie, mate! No dramas... workers' compensation would cover him for any injury for life, plus help him return to work in another capacity if necessary. Also, healthcare is free and available to all. He might even be able to claim a disability pension. He's been taxed at the highest bracket, so fair enough.
ReplyDeleteOh, and it'd be a Holden ute, mate. Bet it's a beauty.
@anonymous We have universal healthcare, return to work schemes and a disability pension. He'll be fine.
ReplyDeleteWe actually have a name for the market he represents: cashed up bogans.
I just CANT BELIEVE the attention Jimmy is getting !!! I dated him for a short few months and found all he did was spend the large majority of his time off his face on drugs sitting at home in his dressing gown, and hanging out with bikies ! Amazing that the press glorify people like him.. and I nearly fell over when I now see he had a tv show about him on National Geographic!!! He should be in jail not famous.. how crazy.
ReplyDeleteJealous?
ReplyDelete