Trade Programs are Booming

[kork13]

While some students skip college, trade programs are booming (<--link to original article ... I also highlighted a few sections below)

Trade programs are often more affordable than a traditional four-year degree, students note, and, for many, skilled trades offer a more obvious path to a job.

Mechanic and repair trade programs saw an enrollment increase of 11.5% from spring 2021 to 2022, according to the National Student Clearinghouse. In construction trades, enrollment grew 19.3%, and in culinary programs, it increased 12.7%. Meanwhile, overall enrollment declined 7.8% at public two-year colleges, and 3.4% at public four-year institutions.

Now 19, Nivyayo looks forward to the anticipated payoff when he gets a job in an auto shop. He can expect to make roughly $40,000 to $60,000 a year, depending on the shop,

Brayden Johnson, 20, who is in his fifth trimester studying industrial maintenance automation, has had the chance to work as an electrical maintenance technician in a local factory ... and is earning about $26 per hour. He said he hopes to stay in the job after he finishes at TCAT this spring.

I got a news alert with this article from AP News today, and it gives me alot of hope.

I know the whole debacle with college costs, student debt, etc. can get heated. But while many industries rely on college degrees to funnel young adults into a variety of white collar careers (and others), our society is also heavily dependent on skilled tradesmen. I don't have data in front of me showing the aging population of tradesmen, but many of those professions suffer from too little young blood, and many of the highly skilled masters are retiring. So I see the fact that trade schools are experiencing a strong resurgence as very encouraging. They're a great option for folks to consider.

(I know we just had a thread about student loans get shut down ... I'm only sharing this as a good-news story, not to instigate anything.)

[Jluke]

Are people with degrees seeing a substantial increase in salary in today’s economy when they enter the job market?

maybe next generation is doing some math and also could just be forced out of the college option due to rising tuition but no correlation to increased base salaries for new college grads to afford “life” (????)

I dunno

[bjl584]

It's not a surprise.
The trades can be a good way to make a living and are much less expensive than college.

[disneysteve]

College isn’t right for everyone.
Trade schools aren’t right for everyone.

It’s important to have options so that people can choose the path in life that is best for them.

[ua_guy]

These are good data points, and I agree. Trades are very worthwhile occupations and are much needed. I'm not surprised at all that trades would be seeing a resurgence right now.

[Petunia 100]

IMO, everyone should have at least 1 skill which cannot be outsourced. That way, you cannot become obsolete. A trade school is a great place to learn that sort of skill.

[ua_guy]

To Petunia's point, the job marketplace and demand for certain skills is always changing. Nothing wrong with re-tooling skills or going back to school or learning a different line of work in our adult years. I've seen people who work with their hands get hired in the office, and people in the office walking out of their cubicles to go work with their hands.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Trade schools and AA degrees should be free so people can learn a skill. AA in dental hygiene pays well. Or RN or something.

[Fishindude77]

Most trades schools are basically free.
More often than not, employers or a trade union provide the training to the recipient with very little $$ out of pocket, plus they work and make money the entire time they are going through a trade apprenticeship.

[Bozzdivine]

Young people don't want to go into crafts because it's not prestigious. Everyone wants to sit in an office and do a non-dusty job.