The removal of trades from middle and high school is proving to be a drastic mistake, as was overselling college education and devaluing the trades.
From Mike Rowe…
We’ve been telling kids for 15 years to learn to code.
Well, AI is coming for the coders.
It’s not coming for the welders, the plumbers, the steamfitters, the pipefitters, the HVAC, or the electricians.
In Aspen, I sat and listened to Larry Fink say we need 500,000 electricians in the next couple of years—not hyperbole.
The BlueForge Alliance, who oversees our maritime industrial base—that’s 15,000 individual companies who are collectively charged with building and delivering nuclear-powered subs to the Navy … calls and says,
We’re having a hell of a time finding tradespeople. Can you help?
I said, I don’t know, man … how many do you need?
He says, 140,000.
These are our submarines.
Things go hypersonic, a little sideways with China, Taiwan, our aircraft carriers are no longer the point of the spear.
They’re vulnerable.
Our submarines matter, and these guys have a pinch point because they can’t find welders and electricians to get them built.
The automotive industry needs 80,000 collision repair and technicians.
Energy, I don’t even know what the number is, I hear 300,000, I hear 500,000.
There is a clear and present freakout going on right now.
I’ve heard from 6 governors in the last 6 months.
I’ve heard from the heads of major companies.
Where are the tradesmen right now?
They are in the 8th grade…
My Conclusion
This, folks, is what happens when we ignore what we need and fail to see what we are looking at.
The push for college since the 1960s and placing an over-emphasis on the value of a college education has led us to dumbing down the so-called intellects in college who have a 6-digit college loan, no job potential as there is no market for their mental skills, and devaluing the importance of the trades.
We need the following DEPSPERATELY and may have to reach beyond our borders for them… Giving them work VISAS once they have passed a battery of tests such as English comprehension exam and a criminal check…
Building Trades
Building trades encompass a variety of construction jobs, including carpentry, flooring, masonry, and plumbing.
If you want to begin work immediately and have some basic skills, you can land a job as a painter, landscaper, or carpet installer with very little training or experience.
As you learn the trade, you may decide to open your own business or move into a larger company.
If you want to become an electrician, plumber, pipe fitter, or welder, you will need to go to vocational school and complete an apprenticeship.
For example, becoming an electrician requires learning the trade, becoming an apprentice, and practicing alongside a certified electrician, prior to becoming licensed.
This journey may take five years, but you will be paid while in training.
Examples:
Carpenter
Carpet installer
Electrician
Heavy equipment operator
Insulation installer
Landscaper
Painter
Plumber
Mechanical Trades
Many mechanical trades require a certification of competency that spans 2 qualification levels…
The first level is referred to as the journey level, and this requires an apprenticeship or experience that is equivalent.
The second level is the master level. You must work as a journeyman or journeywoman for a minimum of a year and take a competency test to become a master.
Attaining a college degree or taking classes at a vocational school provides additional knowledge, but it is possible to become certified through job training or an apprenticeship.
Working as an assistant in a mechanical trade while in high school or networking with mechanical experts will help pave the way.
Examples:
Auto mechanic
HVAC installer
Machinist
Mechanical drafter
Locksmith
Mechanical insulator
Elevator mechanic
Mechanical installer
Industrial Trades
Industrial trades encompass jobs rooted in manufacturing and technology.
These careers involve designing, building, and problem-solving.
A high school diploma is usually the first requirement, but special skills, previous experience, and technical education will set you apart.
Like other trade positions, an apprenticeship can gain you entrance into this field.
If hired, you can complete your apprenticeship requirements while employed. Working in an industrial trade job provides an opportunity for advancement. You may be promoted to a foreman or supervisory position after you gain the proper experience.
Examples:
Steam engineer
Cargo freight agent
Ironworker
Line installer and repairer
Paving equipment operator
Metal fabricator
Asbestos worker
Medical Trades
You don't have to be a doctor or nurse to work in the health-care industry.
A certificate program or two-year degree from a community college will prepare you to work in a variety of healthcare jobs.
For example, becoming a dental hygienist or a radiologist only requires 2 years of college.
In 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that both positions had potential earnings in excess of $50,000.
An ultrasound technologist or certified nursing assistant only requires a certificate program.
Medical trade positions are widely available and offer benefits, along with competitive compensation packages.
Examples:
Dental assistant
Paramedic
Phlebotomist
Respiratory therapist
Clinical laboratory technician
More References
credit: list of trades provided by Dr. Kelly Meier, Chron.com
Share this post