Trades Talk – June 2023
June 2023 Visit Explore The Trades at SkillsUSA! The National Leadership and Skills Conference will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA from June 19th to June 23rd. Explore The Trades will be located at booth 129 at the TECHSPO. Stop by for FREE classroom resources and learn more about our new […]
20 Reasons To Explore The Trades
1. More than one in six skilled tradespeople end up owning their own business and another 20% become partners in a business. 2. 30% of small business owners have no more than a high school diploma. 3. Construction is the most popular profession for people who own their own businesses. 4. The average cost to […]
Trade Jobs Are Secure Jobs
Included among my daily reading is a large amount of business and economic news from the Economist, Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and other credible publications. One article from the WSJ a few days ago struck me as relevant to those of you contemplating trade careers. It had to do with a rise in layoffs at […]
Trades Talk – December 2022
At Explore The Trades, we’re passionate about plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical, and bridging the technical talent gap to these trades. In This Issue: It’s the Season of Giving NEW Customer Service and Dispatch Webpage Over 1,100 Classrooms Have Received Poster Kits! It’s the Season of Giving Thank you to all our donors who supported […]
Employers Rethink Need For College Degrees
That was the headline of an article in the Wall Street Journal a few days ago that grabbed my attention. It is yet more evidence for a theme that I have hammered home in this blog, which is, college degrees have been devalued even while their cost has skyrocketed. Various studies have shown that more […]
It’s National Apprenticeship Week
I’m submitting this article on Nov. 15, the second day of what’s been declared the 8th Annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), November 14-20, 2022. If it’s not marked on your calendar, you’re hardly alone. I didn’t learn about it until a few days before, when I found out First Lady Jill Biden was to visit […]
What No One Tells You About Life After High School
Graduating from high school is a great accomplishment. You worked hard, so take it all in; you deserve it. Preparing for life or a career can be scary, but there are paths you can take that you may not know about. Read on to find out how you can successfully transition from high school graduate […]
Smart Homes Need Smart Technicians
“Wrench jockey” is a somewhat insulting term sometimes used to describe a trade worker. These days, the terminology is not only unkind but off the mark. Sure, wrenches, screwdrivers and other manual tools are still essential components of a toolbox, but the tools of the skilled trades are constantly evolving to include sophisticated electronic instrumentation […]
A Guide to Trade School: What Parents Should Know
As your child begins thinking about their future, odds are they’re starting to make decisions about their career path. Attending a four-year university after high school isn’t the only option your child has. There’s a considerable need for a skilled labor force, and a four-year degree is not the only path that leads to success […]
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 about this shortage. For instance, buried within an article in […]