They that can cobble and clout, Shall have work when others go without.

People who can mend and patch things possess useful skills that may bring them work when employment is scarce for others. The proverb contrasts practical ability with the vulnerability of having no work to do.

Its broader point is that skills meeting everyday needs can provide a measure of security in hard times. The wording makes that prospect sound certain, though it is best understood as an argument for the value of such skills, not a guarantee.

Use it to emphasize the value of repair skills in a discussion of work or self-sufficiency, especially when jobs are scarce. Its old-fashioned wording gives it a proverbial tone; the contrast works best when the point concerns useful skills rather than employment in general.