College Continues to Lose Luster
The number of high school graduates that enroll in college continues to drop. Data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows that in 2021 around 17.5 million students were enrolled in two- or four-year colleges and universities, a 3.2% decline from 2020 and the
Preparing Your Home for Winter with HVAC
As you may know, and as we’ve written before, the importance of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in a home cannot be overstated. Responsible for the quality, temperature, and distribution of all the air in the building, a well-functioning HVAC system is
Talking Shop With A Trade Worker
In my last blog, I cited a survey showing 83% of trade workers expressed satisfaction with their work. It reminded me of conversations I had with one of them. Before Covid put an end to such fun, I used to gather with several friends to
Over $20,000 Raised at “Passion & Partnership” Event
Thank you to everyone who attended the “Passion & Partnership” fundraising event! Together, over $20,000 was raised to bridge the technical talent gap to the trades of plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical. The event featured a panel of residential service providers: Geno Caccia, CEO of
Most Trade Workers Love Their Jobs
An annual survey released in September found that 83% of skilled trade workers expressed satisfaction with their choice of work. This stands in contrast with numerous other studies that show workers in many other fields discontented with their jobs, a long-term trend that has been
Explore The Trades Skills Lab Built by Ferguson
Ferguson announces partnership with Explore the Trades to provide support to career and technical education high schools across the U.S. Two organizations came together to create Explore The Trades Skills Lab Built by Ferguson Ferguson and Explore The Trades, a nonprofit organization with a mission
The Skilled Labor Shortage By The Numbers
A common theme addressed in this blog is the nationwide shortage of skilled trade workers and the opportunities that spring from it for people who do opt for a career in the trades. Hardly a week passes when I don’t come across some startling information
How’s Your B.S. Detector?
I want to keep this blog family-friendly, so I won’t spell out what B.S. stands for. Anyway, it’s unnecessary since you all know what it means. (No, I’m not referring to a Bachelor of Science college degree.) The ability to detect B.S. is one of
Are You a People Person
There is a spectrum of personality types that can be thought of with “introverts” at one end vs. “extraverts” at the other. Introverts tend to be shy and hesitant to strike up conversations, especially with strangers. Extraverts are outgoing, “life of the party” types. They