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Trade Degrees are Making a Comeback as the World Needs More Laborers

It wasn’t all that long ago when the average Americans could make a perfectly good living with nothing more than high school diplomas or trade degrees. After graduating, he would get a job at a local manufacturing plant or corporate office, where he would earn enough money to comfortably support a nuclear family, then retire at age 65 and enjoy his golden years.

Somewhere in the past few decades, however, we’ve started sending our youth the message that they absolutely must go to college and get a Bachelor’s degree.

But is that true? It turns out that the nation has a deficit of workers with trade degrees. Let’s take a closer look at educational and employment trends in the U.S. today.

The Changing Attitudes Towards Higher Education

For many young people in the United States, going to college is something of a social imperative. That’s due in part to the emphasis our society puts on equal opportunity. At least in theory, Americans believe that all opportunities should be available to all people, regardless of race, gender, and other factors.

These opportunities include a college education, the ability to enlist in the military and serve in combat, equal pay for equal work, and access to resources. The notion of equal opportunity has become ingrained into our culture, and that’s a good thing.

Unintended Consequences of the Equality Movement

However, some experts argue that the push to achieve a college education has actually done more damage than good. Not everyone is suited to a four-year degree program. Yet many young adults take on the burden of student loan debt and head off to university anyway.

Some of these students end up sticking it out, but not as many as you might think. In fact, statistics compiled by the Institute of Education Statistics show that a whopping 40% of students who enroll in a four-year college leave without completing their degree.

They are then back to square one with nothing to show for their efforts — except student loan debt. Without marketable skills, it is difficult to make enough money to support oneself, let alone a family, and still .

The push toward four-year colleges and universities is taking a toll on the job market, as well. There aren’t enough skilled laborers to fill the available positions. Financial experts warn that the nation is undergoing such a severe shortage that it may well reach epidemic proportions before long.

Degrees May Not Be As Lucrative As Once Thought

Even when a student stays in college and graduates with a Bachelor’s degree, it’s not necessarily smooth sailing. Employment and underemployment rates for college grads younger than 25 doubled from 2007 to 2017.

That’s due partially to the economic collapse that took place a few years later. The “college for all” mindset is also to blame. So many people now have four-year degrees that to be truly competitive and stand out in the crowded marketplace, it’s necessary to have a Master’s or doctorate. 

It’s Time to Recognize That College Isn’t for Everyone

It takes a certain amount of courage to admit that you don’t want to go to college. Along with the idea that everyone deserves a higher education, we’ve also internalized the notion that people with a Bachelor’s degree are better than those without.

Of course, that’s simply not true. And from a purely financial standpoint, it can be a better choice to attend a trade school than to earn a BA or BS degree. 

According to The Good Jobs Project, there are some 30 million so-called “good jobs” in the U.S. today. Its definition of a good job is one that pays a minimum of $35,000 annually for people under age 45, and $55,000 for those who are older.

Students in trade schools or apprentice programs incur less debt, too. Earning a Bachelor’s degree in the United States costs, on average, $127,000 in tuition alone.

Yet there’s not much difference in income between someone with a high-school education, who earns an average of $30K each year, and their college-educated counterpart, who brings home $46,900 on average.

A certificate degree from a trade school narrows that gap even further. 

Good News for Young Americans

The labor shortage is creating an “employee’s market” in America today. Many employers are sweetening the pot to try to attract workers. They are raising entry-level wages and offering generous benefits packages and other workplace perks. In some industries, they are even doing away with pre-employment drug screens or background checks.

Which industries are the most desperate for skilled workers? Health industries like nursing and other medical fields have the most dire need. There’s also an excess of openings in leisure and hospitality, mining, logging, transportation, manufacturing, warehousing, utilities, financial services, , and retail and wholesale trade.

In short, this is a very good time for high school seniors and recent graduates to learn more about attending a trade school.

Wrapping Up

Of course, a four-year degree is a prerequisite for some industries. And for other fields like medicine and law, it’s merely the first milestone in a decade’s worth of education necessary to become a professional. 

For many of the nation’s young citizens, however, a college education is a risky proposition. It might help them achieve their goals and land a high-paying position with room for advancement. Or it might be a very expensive mistake.

Which outcome occurs depends on the individual, their skills and interests, and the fluctuating face of the job force and economy in the United States today.

Trade degrees and vocational programs are generally more affordable, have a more secure path to employment, and offer placement services that help students hit the workforce ground running.

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