College tuitions and the mounting debt incurred to get a degree are getting ridiculous. And that to the fact that liberal arts degrees are probably not going to get you a dream job. So when I read about a renewed interest in trade schools and apprenticeships, it's about time.
There is such a shortage of people going into the trades currently, that employers across construction, manufacturing, electrical work, plumbing, and HVAC are struggling to fill jobs. Those that wish to take take path can count on finding a good job with decent pay.
With the average federal student loan now surpassing $37,000, it is no wonder people are beginning to ask: Is it worth the cost? And with the revival of the manufacturing sector the current administration is pushing, that answer is increasingly no. Somewhere in the last 50 years, we were sold this this idea that success only comes from a college degree. If you want to go into the medical, legal or engineering fields that is necessary.
But a good portion of degree holders are finding themselves underemployed or working in fields unrelated to their area of study, which raises the question about whether the traditional college path always gives the outcomes students expect.
The truth is that there are a lot of high school students who have no idea of what they want to do when they graduate and with an increase in the options for trade schools, they now have a greater choice of futures. Many programs can be completed in two years or less, which allows graduates to enter the workforce more quickly and with far less debt.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual wages exceed $62,000 for elections, $61,000 for plumbers, and $59,000 for HVAC technicians. Not a bad salary for someone starting out in the workforce.
The Associated Builders and Contractors say that the construction industry will need hundreds of thousands of additional workers to meet the anticipated demand. These shortages exist across the other skilled professions also. This is fueled by factors that includes ongoing infrastructure investments, a nationwide housing shortage, and manufacturing returning to this country from overseas.
The good news is that community colleges and vocational programs are expanding to meet this need. Enrollments at community colleges focused on vocational programs surged 16% in 2023. In addition, tech companies are also investing in vocational training to meet their needs.
Meta recently announced a $155 million initiative called America's Workforce Academy, a free training program desinged to prepare workers for these high-demand trades including electrical, welding, plumbing, fiber installation, and data center construction. They even guarantee graduates a job upon completion, which reflects just how hard it is to find skilled labor into the forseable future.
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