When parents discuss career choices with kids, they often say something along the lines of “be whatever you want to be.” However, by this, most parents mean, go into technology, medicine, law or something else that implies a university education.
Far too few parents and educators encourage children to think of careers in the skilled trades. And yet jobs in these industries pay well, offer huge freedoms and benefits, allow people to be entrepreneurial and can provide lifelong opportunities to learn new things.
Some things parents should consider before they pass off skilled trades opportunities – by this, we include careers in anything from construction to auto mechanics to massage therapy and more – as something that’s “fine for other kids but not mine.”
Skilled trades offer unique learning and entrepreneurial opportunities
Skilled trades are almost always self-run businesses where people set their own hours and their own hourly rates.
On top of that, there are ample learning opportunities and chances for people to be creative. Most skilled trades offer people the opportunity to create with their hands, solve complex problems, deal with people and build new and unique things. Compare that to many “professional careers” where people sit at a desk all day, in an office.
Many trade school graduates in trades such as massage therapy or physical fitness (for example) work with people daily to improve lives.
The student debt load of career schools vs. university or college
Most skilled trades programs last two or three years before the student begins an apprenticeship or is ready for the work force. Quite often, they enter the work force more quickly. Compare that to college or university, where students buy books, pay exorbitant tuition rates for at least four years, require rent and food, etc. These students enter the workforce with the same amount of – arguably less – marketable skills. On top of that, no university or college guarantees its students will get jobs; yet many technical and career schools make that exact guarantee.
The skilled trades shortage guarantees work and good income
For several years now, commentators have warned of a skilled trades shortage. These warnings have indeed been borne out. In fact as far back as 2003, The Canadian Federation of Independent Business reported that 48.7% of member companies called a shortage of qualified labour their most important issue. This skilled trades shortage remains a fact of life all over North America, with new alarms raised in the past two weeks in British Columbia and New Brunswick, to name two examples. Anyone who has watched the skilled trades industry knows that this shortage is certain and it’s serious.
The good news, then, is that there will be demand for trade school graduates and they are likely to be paid more due to the market shortfall. As Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in an address In St. John’s Newfoundland, last year, “If trades people adopt new technologies and stay current with their expertise, they should have long, busy and successful careers.”
These are a unique – and uniquely challenging – career choice for women
Earlier this year, the Niagara Region saw its first skilled trades inspiration session. Marissa McTasney, one of the featured speakers, espoused the value of a skilled trades career for women. “(Women in trades) are setting their hours, their rates. They get to dictate what they’re paid,” she told the crowd.
Indeed, women are finding that skilled trades offer them outlets they do not have in other jobs. McTasney, for example, creates a line of women’s work wear found at many major retailers including Home Depot and Wal-Mart. As she says, “There are just so many opportunities.”
If opportunities are what parents want for their children when they are considering career choices, trade schools, including anything from heating and refrigeration trade schools to paralegal trade schools, ought to be considered as good a choice as any other form of higher education. Children should be encouraged to learn all they can about and pursue trade school careers.
Jim, you make some great points. There is such a demand for skilled trades and there are a lot of benefits including some that you pointed out in that jobs in these industries can pay well, and the experience in these areas can provide lifelong opportunities to learn new things. There are so many diverse opportunities for young people to pursue. From traditional trades such as being an electrician or a plumber to new trades such as those in the environmental space.
We totally agree with you when you suggest that "children should be encouraged to learn all they can about and pursue trade school careers." Nice post!