3 Reasons to Consider the Trades as a Career Path

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWxGaoPIBSM

     Part of my job is to prepare students for the workforce during and following their high school career. It is not to prepare for them for a job but for a career. It includes talking about interview skills, interpersonal skills, personal finance, and character building. Much of what we talk about is centered around the "soft-skills" needed to be successful in any business or workplace. I would be doing them a disservice if I did not make them aware of what opportunities are out there. Several times throughout the year, I have them use the Bureau of Labor Statistics to investigate different jobs. It could be as wild as an astrophysicist or it could be something as labor intensive as a construction worker or sanitation collector.   

     According to the Bureau for Labor Statistics, the two jobs expected to grow the most by 2028 are trade jobs; Solar Panel Installer/Technician and Wind Turbine Service Technician. This is a huge signal for career readiness institutions like high schools and trade schools. It tells curriculum instructors that we need to be encouraging students to consider jobs in the trades. These two jobs expected to grow have a median projected income of $42,000 and $54,000, respectively.

     The wage range is equivalent to several jobs that require a four year degree-like education and other jobs. We owe it to our students and children to help provide them with information and the encouragement needed to make a career in the trades. Not every student is cut out for a trade job just like not every student is intended to go to college. If we can make this a reality for our students we solve several problems at once; students that do not want to attend college still have meaningful employment which in turn keeps the economy growing, keeps government intervention down via assistance, and allows student to have a goal and a discernible skill.

     We need to stop perpetuating the myth that you have to attend a four year university to become successful. Almost every job is under threat of automation, but people who can fix machines- tradesmen- will always be needed in some capacity. People will always have plumbing, electrical, and HVAC issues in their personal homes and businesses. Regardless the level of automation, we will still need people to, at the very least, assist with these installations and repairs.

     The next thing we need to do as a society is to remove the stigma of working in the trades. Yes, the work is hard, dirty, and often underappreciated, but it is important and it does pay the bills. Are you going to become a multi-billionaire wiring in light switches? Probably not. Are you going to be able to provide for a family and have a decent retirement? Most likely.

     I always make the joke to some of my students who are stressing out about college acceptance letters that "The world needs ditch diggers, too", to steal a line from Caddyshack. But it's a joke that carries alot of weight. The world really does need ditch diggers. It needs people who are willing to do the hard but vital work. We need people willing to lay concrete, build magnificent skyscrapers, and fix water main breaks.

     So I challenge those of you who read the blog to consider looking into the trades, encouraging someone to look into the trades, or just thank a tradesperson for doing the work that they do. Many of societies ills can be alleviated through removing the stigma around trade jobs. Like working with your hands? Work the trades. Like working with people? Work the trades. Don't like "academics/school" work the trades. There are plenty of trade jobs out there if people are willing to do the work.