Boomer blames his generation for Gen Z’s lazy work ethic: ‘Spoiled by my generation’

A veteran motorcycle mechanic has blamed younger workers, particularly Generation Z, for forcing him to close his longtime business.

Dave Lawson, who opened The Bike Doctor in Perth in December 1981, said he is closing up shop after 43 years. He points the finger at young workers and blames their attitude towards internships and work in general.

“They’ve been spoiled by my generation,” Lawson said The Western Australian.

“We have tried to give our children a better life than we had. We haven’t allowed them to make it difficult and make their own mistakes.”

Lawson claims that Gen Z, people born between 1997 and 2012, are turning their noses up at internships because of low starting salaries, but still manage to find money for what he considers luxury lifestyle choices.

“A lot of young people say they don’t have any money, but if you look at their bank statements, they’re paying $50 to get a hamburger,” he said.

“This is where your money goes. You just can’t save money when you blow it like that.”

During his decades in business, Lawson says he’s only had about a dozen apprentices. While some stayed for years, most did not last long and none pursued a career in motorcycle mechanics.

“Within three to six months, they’re dragging their lips around the workshop,” Lawson said. “Some people expect too much.”

Lawson believes the root of the issue lies in schools, where internships are not valued enough, where students are encouraged to go to university. He argues that this leaves young people with huge debts and no practical experience.

The problem, he says, is exacerbated in Western Australia because of the lucrative mining sector.

“Mining is a very attractive job for young people because they can go straight to big money,” Lawson explained.

Bike Doctor published a special note on the “current climate” of the trade industry on its website.

“Due to the chronic skills shortage in the motorcycle industry here in WA, we are having to curtail some of our normal services, including dyno work,” the announcement said.

“Although unfortunate, it is better during these times to hibernate some aspect of what we are equipped but do not have the available skills to perform, rather than produce unsatisfactory results.”

Apprentice heavy diesel mechanic Connor Gale, 21, said many apprentices in the sector drop out before qualifying, often for financial reasons.

“Customer service advisors make more than mechanics in bonuses,” Gale said. “Why would you sacrifice four years of c**p pay when you can go straight into a service advisor role?”

It comes after training organization Apprenticeships Are Us LTD reported that 60 per cent of automotive apprentices are dropping out of their apprenticeships.

This alarming dropout rate comes from the National Center for Vocational Education Research, which found that individual completion rates for apprentices and trainees were down to 54.8 percent in 2023.

Phil Cooksey, general manager of Apprenticeships Are Us Ltd, said low starting wages are putting young people off.

“The current cost of living pressure, particularly in the Sydney area, is probably the biggest culprit for people leaving their practice. The government has offered incentives to help ease the cost of living pressure, but still, apprentices are finding themselves faced with difficult decisions,” he said.

“It’s unfortunate because completing an apprenticeship offers long-term benefits, including valuable qualifications, real-world experience and very competitive wages.”

Mr Cooksey said the best advice he could offer any young person studying a trade was to stick with it because it would eventually pay off.

“A qualified auto mechanic can earn around $75,000 a year, while those who specialize in heavy vehicles, such as trucks and buses, can see salaries reaching $100,000,” he said.

“With automotive skills in high demand, apprentices who complete their training are likely to find employment opportunities in their preferred locations.”