While you might be encouraging your kid to go to college, there’s another option you may not have considered
Why consider a trade career now?
There are promising careers in the skilled trades. Today’s tradespeople are using technology in ways we never would have dreamed, they’re making great money and establishing lifelong careers. Here are 10 reasons why you should encourage your high schooler to enter the skilled trades after graduation.
1. Trade School is Less Expensive Than College
While the average price of college is nearly $10,000 per year in the U.S. for tuition alone, trade school is just $5,000 to $15,000 total for a certificate of completion or trade diploma (as of October 2021). College tuition doesn’t factor in extras such as housing and textbooks. Trade school is short enough that students don’t typically require long-term housing.
2. Students Can Start Working (and Earning Money) Quickly
Most students finish trade school in as little as 12 to 18 months, and in between apprenticeship levels, they engage in paid, on-the-job training. After a few weeks in school, your teen could be earning money while gaining valuable work experience.
3. The Money is Good
While the average pay for skilled tradespeople varies depending on their experience and skill level, the trades usually offer a competitive starting salary and a high income.
4. Most Skilled-Trades Work Comes with Benefit Packages
In addition to the excellent pay, most skilled tradespeople in the construction industry receive benefits with their compensation packages.
5. A Sense of Accomplishment Every Day
Encouraging your child to learn a trade means encouraging them to invest in a career that allows them to feel a sense of accomplishment each day & see tangible results of a job well done.
6. When it Comes to Job Growth, The Sky’s the Limit
Entering a skilled trade means committing to several levels of an apprenticeship before becoming a licensed journeyperson. That means that as soon as your child starts their career, they’re in line for several promotions (and pay raises), provided they complete their schooling and work experience at each apprenticeship level. Once they become a journeyperson, there’s still plenty of growth opportunities.
7. There’s Room for Everyone in the Skilled Trades
The skilled trades have plenty of opportunities for women, men and minorities looking for long-term work. In fact, by 2028, it’s predicted that there will be more than 3 million job openings in the skilled trades.
8. Skilled workers Can Choose a Job They Love
There are plenty of choices when it comes to working in the skilled trades. From construction worker to automotive painter to welder, there’s a job for just about every interest and skill level.
9. They’ll Receive Safety Training
Skilled trades may sound like a dangerous career, but in most cases, workers receive continuous safety training and certifications to ensure that they’re working safely and within their industry’s regulations.
10. Some Skilled Trades are nearly Recession-Proof
While there are very few industries that are recession-proof, there are some that are recession-resistant. Utilities like electricity and plumbing aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, and even in a substantial economic downturn, there’s always demand for skilled laborers who can work in these specialty areas.
Is collision repair one of those industries? The answer is yes — after all, accidents will happen in any economy. According to a 2020 study by Global Market Insights, the global market valuation of the automotive repair sector is forecast to rise from roughly $304 billion in 2019 to $340 billion by 2026, due in part to worldwide growth in automotive and commercial vehicle sales stemming from the rise of e-commerce.
Whether you go to college, jump right into a skilled trade or combine these options, your success depends heavily on you. Which means you get to define your own goals, create your own road map and work toward meeting milestones your own way. Whatever your reason for craving a college education, remember that you can use that education to help you in a skilled trades career.
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