If you’re looking for a job, you already know how tough it is out there.

But we were reminded this morning when a story about the state seeking paid apprentices who can earn more than $20 an hour made the phone of my colleague Robert Rodriguez ring off the hook.

He received nearly 15 phone calls about California’s ‘I Built It’ campaign. The state is looking to meet an “amazing need” for apprentices on billions of dollars worth of future public-works projects. Did I mention they get paid while receiving training?

They’re looking for 73,000 carpenters who could earn $23 an hour and 15,000 operating engineers who could earn more than $27 an hour.

The program’s Web site includes videos of each position. And this site includes contact information for each profession’s apprenticeships.