Skilled-Trades Training is Increasingly Popular Among American Workers

– By Andrew Morrissey

“There are growth opportunities for trades people to adapt to fast-changing technologies to stand out, or pursue issues that reach beyond a trade.”

Shortages of skilled labor are an ongoing problem confronting the HVAC and plumbing trades, but recent statistics show that more students — albeit a few years older than average college students — are turning to community colleges to pursue careers.

About 10,000 people have been trained by the PHCC’s Education Foundation’s online plumbing and HVAC apprentice courses over the last six years, and the numbers are going up.

“It’s been exploding actually,” says Daniel Quinonez, the foundation’s top executive.

He points to a couple of facts for driving the growth in enrollment. People hurt by COVID shutdowns and the experience of trying to cobble together a living in the gig economy are looking for a career path where they can earn a steady income and learn a lifelong trade.

He points to the average age of people enrolled in the online academy program as a key measure. It’s 27.

Students are also looking at the cost of getting a three- or four-year college degree and questioning whether it’s worth the investment. People who look at the cost of a community college, which is about a third less, are doing the math and moving into trades where they find their skills are in demand and they can start earning a good income after graduation, or even before.

“If you look at the average salaries of folks in the trades — and the trades can vary from welding to HVAC technician to plumbing — it’s significant and you can come out with very little debt and you’re able to start a career right away and you have multiple options that weren’t available to you before,” Quinonez says.

After completing apprenticeships, good workers in the trades can earn six-figure incomes and find paths for advancement.

Trade Training Enrollment Increases

Quinonez’s viewpoint is reflected in a national report released earlier this year.

Enrollment in community colleges focused on trades-related training jumped 16 percent from 2022-23, according to data from National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. That’s an increase of about 112,000 students.

The shift may be a sign that trades education is going to continue growing.

“The number of students in college has finally turned the corner after years of decline,” said Doug Shapiro, executive director of the research center.

Data from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) shows career and technical education programs make up about 40% of community college enrollments across the country.

However, there is still room to grow. General enrollment in community colleges topped out about 2008 as the Great Recession hit the economy, and enrollment is just reaching pre-COVID levels.

 

Students Reassess Career Options

Quinonez’s take on the reasons for the increase is correct, says Martha Parham, senior vice president for public relations at the AACC. “I think a lot of students really took some time to consider how they wanted to advance their own career.”

“We’re no longer ‘The best kept secret’ and people are really looking at community colleges as a proven partner in workforce training to really build those local workforce pipelines.”

Quinonez, of the PHCC foundation, says someone in the trades who continues their education in their career can position themselves for much bigger roles later in their career. With the degree of consolidation happening in trades-related sectors, and the entry of private-equity investors building larger companies, there is room for someone who started as a technician to move into senior management roles.

A plumbing background is a great vehicle to move into roles addressing environmental concerns, such as water contamination and energy efficiency.

He still sees one hurdle that still has to be crossed in convincing parents and teachers that a trades education is a solid career choice compared to attending a three- or four-year college. A trade program offers a clear focus, while higher degrees may not offer the same stability as a trade.

“What we’re still seeing is that high schools are still pushing kids to go to college. What we need to see happening is that a straight-A student — who can go to college, who doesn’t know what they want to do, loves to work with their hands, has an entrepreneurial mind — that’s the future trade or trades person.”

“Fast Facts” information courtesy of American Association of Community Colleges.

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