I think Amateur Radio Operators need to market themselves better.
I'm just dipping my toes into amateur radio. I don't own one and I've never seen one in person but I stumbled across a YouTube video randomly about the different types of HF Antennas and my mind was blown at how cool and interesting it was to me. I've probably watched 30-40 more HAM related videos now and I'm hooked for more than one reason. For reference, I am a licensed Electrician and do Building Automation/Management Controls for a living. To become an electrician in my state, you must pass a test on the National Electric Code. I don't know how many of you are aware of this, but most of what you're doing and the knowledge you get from this could be put on a job application and would get my attention quickly if someone was applying to be a Controls Technician.
Grounding, Bonding, Ohms law/Power wheel, diodes, transformers, analog signals, resistors, shielding, RF Interference, etc! These are all things we use in my field every single day and I really think there's something here.
I specifically can't find young people willing to do the work because the bar to entry is a little tough. It's a lot of information to learn, it's hard being on a ladder all day or neck deep in a control cabinet from 1989 trying to figure out why a 20ma output has 16.2ma at the end due to the fact someone ran unshielded 18AWG wire through the same piece of conduit that feeds the main power distribution panel on the building and the EF is making the signal change every time the HVAC unit comes on..but I digress.
Nobody wants to do the work! We've had job postings up since 2022(offering to pay $5-$10 OVER UNION SCALE!)and haven't been able to find anybody. The apprenticeship pools are even empty(in my area).
The troubleshooting skills alone from a HAM makes me think i need to start recruiting from local amateur radio clubs.