RONALD J. PAWLEY POST: VOCATIONAL TRADES OFFER GREATER OPPORTUNITY
October 6, 2014
Research has revealed that an estimate 2.5 million new middle-skilled jobs will be added to the workforce by 2017, which represents nearly 40 percent of total job growth.
Vocational trades – skilled trades are in high demand as boomers retire. Construction, engineering, and manufacturing are skilled trades that the foundation of America was built on – who will replace the boomer’s as they retire? The most sought after high paying jobs at all vocational, skilled levels are in the 125 largest metros on searchable databases.
There seems to be a conflicting picture in the landscape of education today, according to Ronald J. Pawley. Finding the pathway to success may now be a skilled trade vs. a four year college degree. However, society is still pushing young people to get into a four-year college.
A vocational/trade school provides and teaches the skills needed to perform a specific job like welding, plumbing carpentry to name a few, without the added requirements of allied subjects such as English, History, etc. included.
Clearly, trade schools are not designed to further education in the area of liberal arts, but to teach only job- specific skills. Typically, many colleges were once designed for fields that had future growth potential.
How things have changed. Many college grads find it difficult to find jobs today – resigning themselves to working at very low-level jobs. Conversely, vocational/trade education are now offering the best chance at great wages, a solid career and a lifetime of comfortable living.
However, there is, indeed, a better option. There is a bright future for skilled workers which will likely remain in strong demand Employers are complaining that they are unable to find sufficient skilled workers to fill the increasing demand.
The forward looking young people who are seeking out a skilled trade, and become certified in that trade are looking at a promising, successful and profitable future.
Four year colleges may be more in demand because it is passionately portrayed as a positive “image” – begging the question: What is aspirational about a skilled trade? It is going to take time to challenge this stereotype.
It is not difficult to find a certifiable credible trade school and the demand is increasing at alarming rates. They are truly a bargain when compared to the traditional four year colleges. Luckily, there are several ways vocational students can protect themselves from choosing a bad school or program. The first step is ensuring that the program they’re considering is accredited. The Department of Education has an easy-to-use accreditation database.
Despite the government’s lack of help for vocational/skilled trade schools, the demand for skilled workers is continuing to rise, bringing higher salaries. For students who are willing to do the necessary research and planning, trade and vocational schools are now the stars by which they steer their course to a brighter more profitable goal-oriented future.
There are too many young people going to four year colleges, racking up huge debt and ultimately ending up unemployed, when a vocational - skilled job education would have been much cheaper and in absolute demand.
Ronald J. Pawley is a retired (1986) chief officer, incident commander, and hazmat professional in emergency chemical incidents at Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y. Kodak Park was among the largest industrial chemical complexes in the northeast. The Kodak Park Fire Department was also considered one of the largest chemical fire- fighting organizations’ worldwide, providing fire prevention/protection for over 60,400 employees at Kodak Park.
October 6, 2014
Research has revealed that an estimate 2.5 million new middle-skilled jobs will be added to the workforce by 2017, which represents nearly 40 percent of total job growth.
Vocational trades – skilled trades are in high demand as boomers retire. Construction, engineering, and manufacturing are skilled trades that the foundation of America was built on – who will replace the boomer’s as they retire? The most sought after high paying jobs at all vocational, skilled levels are in the 125 largest metros on searchable databases.
There seems to be a conflicting picture in the landscape of education today, according to Ronald J. Pawley. Finding the pathway to success may now be a skilled trade vs. a four year college degree. However, society is still pushing young people to get into a four-year college.
A vocational/trade school provides and teaches the skills needed to perform a specific job like welding, plumbing carpentry to name a few, without the added requirements of allied subjects such as English, History, etc. included.
Clearly, trade schools are not designed to further education in the area of liberal arts, but to teach only job- specific skills. Typically, many colleges were once designed for fields that had future growth potential.
How things have changed. Many college grads find it difficult to find jobs today – resigning themselves to working at very low-level jobs. Conversely, vocational/trade education are now offering the best chance at great wages, a solid career and a lifetime of comfortable living.
However, there is, indeed, a better option. There is a bright future for skilled workers which will likely remain in strong demand Employers are complaining that they are unable to find sufficient skilled workers to fill the increasing demand.
The forward looking young people who are seeking out a skilled trade, and become certified in that trade are looking at a promising, successful and profitable future.
Four year colleges may be more in demand because it is passionately portrayed as a positive “image” – begging the question: What is aspirational about a skilled trade? It is going to take time to challenge this stereotype.
It is not difficult to find a certifiable credible trade school and the demand is increasing at alarming rates. They are truly a bargain when compared to the traditional four year colleges. Luckily, there are several ways vocational students can protect themselves from choosing a bad school or program. The first step is ensuring that the program they’re considering is accredited. The Department of Education has an easy-to-use accreditation database.
Despite the government’s lack of help for vocational/skilled trade schools, the demand for skilled workers is continuing to rise, bringing higher salaries. For students who are willing to do the necessary research and planning, trade and vocational schools are now the stars by which they steer their course to a brighter more profitable goal-oriented future.
There are too many young people going to four year colleges, racking up huge debt and ultimately ending up unemployed, when a vocational - skilled job education would have been much cheaper and in absolute demand.
Ronald J. Pawley is a retired (1986) chief officer, incident commander, and hazmat professional in emergency chemical incidents at Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y. Kodak Park was among the largest industrial chemical complexes in the northeast. The Kodak Park Fire Department was also considered one of the largest chemical fire- fighting organizations’ worldwide, providing fire prevention/protection for over 60,400 employees at Kodak Park.