The Trades: Your Ticket to a Future-Proof Career
The Trades: Your Ticket to a Future-Proof Career In a rapidly changing job market, many career paths face uncertainty due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. This is a stressful time for both current workers and high school graduates preparing to enter the job market. No matter how much the employment landscape changes, […]
What a Career in the Trades is Like: From an Experienced Electrician
What a Career in the Trades is Like: From an Experienced Electrician EXPLORE THE TRADES | February 10, 2025 | Blog The trades offer a unique career path filled with opportunity, growth, and hands-on experiences that “traditional” office jobs often can’t provide. Whether you’re considering trade school, wondering if a career in the trades is […]
Student Debt by the Number
For years, this blogger has been telling of the massive burden college students bring upon themselves – or their parents – by borrowing money to attend college. The ballooning expense of college nowadays means borrowing at least $100,000 to finance four years for most students. The average debt will vary quite a bit based on […]
Three Ways You Can Support the Next Generation of Skilled Workers
The struggle to attract young people to the skilled trades has been well-documented. We need to work together to ensure we have the people needed to offer these crucial services. Few industries offer the career stability and progression that the trades can provide. Additionally, skilled workers can choose to work for a company or lean […]
Women in the Trades: Growing Careers, Breaking Barriers
Around 4% of people working skilled trades jobs in the United States are women. While this number may not sound like a lot, this is substantial progress from what was once a flat 0%. We are likely to see – and excited to see – the number of trades opportunities for women continue to rise […]
Starting From Square 1: Building a Career in the Trades
While starting fresh with a trades career may sound challenging, the payoff can be immense. Jessica Bannister, an HVAC professional, spent over 10 years behind a desk before beginning her apprenticeship in 2018. Jessica grew up thinking the trades weren’t an option for women like her, and is much more happy and fulfilled after making […]
College vs. Trades: Why Not Both?
Some of you may be debating about whether to go to college or embark on a trade career. In fact, it is not an either-or proposition. It’s not unheard of for college students or even graduates to find out they like working with tools better than whatever white-collar job their education landed them. It happens […]
How To Promote Trades Work in High School
We tell high school students time and time again: they have their entire lives in front of them. They indeed have the time to wander and explore if they so choose. Some will continue their education in college while others are not as sure about what their next pursuit will be after graduation. This makes […]
Physical Traits of Trade Workers
Like many of you, I’m a sports fan and in my youth was a fair to middling athlete. Never a star but usually better than half of my teammates. That’s also a fair description of the physical traits needed to become a skilled trade worker. You don’t have to have a body builder’s physique or […]
College is Cool, But Have You Tried Avoiding Debt?
One of the biggest moments in a student’s life is when they graduate high school. This event kicks off the start of a new era, where opportunities are endless and you can choose your career path. Many students go through high school preparing for college, and many high schools and institutions intentionally prepare and lead […]