Did any other 51B's find it hard to get work as a civilian carpenter or brick layer?

I deployed with a number of carpentry and masonry specialists, now called a 12W. The majority of them had a lower skill level than I would expect from a day laborer. The most qualified would have had a hard time getting a job above mason tender or carpenters helper. I did not meet a single one I would have hired as a mason or carpenter. I did not go through the school, so I don't know if that is a TRADOC issue or more of a unit issue. (The company had plenty of other problems too.) However, there were a number of basic skills, they simply didn't seem to have been taught. The Army Engineer magazine recently ran an article highlighting the lack of training for 12Ws, so I suspect that that has something to do with the issue.

Carpenters and Masons often have to go where the work is, that is where construction is high and expected to remain so. Survey the country (google) and find where this type work is highly sought after and decide if you can test the waters by heading there.

Same happened to me in 90. It sucked even though my training was civilian instead of AIT.