Reply To: Who is going to take your place when you retire?

[Jonathan P. Williams, RLA]

I have first hand experience with this.
Currently I hold a position with a Design/Build company that also does a good deal of maintenance.
I was more than willing to go into a LA firm and ‘pay my dues’ but there were none that were hiring entry level BLA graduates and I was snubbed so many times my enthusiasm for LA has dwindled.

So I am at a large D/B doing everything a LA does just can’t call myself one.
So what does that mean for all those retiring LA’s? It means my carrier path has changed and I can’t take their place at this point, or the near future.

I agree with Jonathan that in a numbers game LAs will be outnumbered by other professions that can do the same work, not better just that they can.
But I disagree in that Jonathan is thinking about the here and now.

5 years from now, I believe, that BLA graduates will be able to find work and begin to replace the retiring LAs.
My only concern is that the boat for me may sail away. In 5 years I may have more financial responsibility, family, than will allow me to work for little money and ‘pay my dues’.

This will not stop me from designing. It only means I am having to follow a different path.