For the past two months, seniors from all over the country have tossed mortarboards in the air in celebration of the start of their adulthood.
But many of these graduating seniors have misgivings about college. Some would rather choose a profession that gets them out of an office where they can work with their hands. And many others don’t want to go into debt for a degree that may not guarantee them a good-paying job.
For the first time since the 1970s, a large number of young people are choosing trade school over college. With the skilled trades already suffering from a labor shortage, many home service, construction and manufacturing companies are glad to see the interest.
Studies show that trade school is far cheaper than most four-year colleges. And the programs last about 18 to 24 months, allowing graduates to start work much sooner than their college-bound peers.
As more Gen Zers apply to trade school, more problems may arise.
Trade School Bottlenecks
A study released last year by DEWALT found that high schoolers faced some challenges when enrolling in trade school. As many as 52% reported being put on a waiting list before they can even begin learning.
For years, trade schools scaled down as more young people opted for college. But with the cost of college skyrocketing and a federal student loan system run amok, students are once again returning to trade schools. And these schools aren’t yet equipped to handle the added interest.
But that doesn’t mean that HVAC, plumbing and electrical companies can wait for trade schools to graduate the number of workers they need. Many are simply taking matters into their own hands.
Company-Led Apprenticeship Programs
To combat their labor challenges, many home service companies have started or expanded their apprenticeship programs.
An apprenticeship program brings young, eager minds directly into the business, they pay their students to learn a trade. It’s a win-win for the employer and their new employee.
From around the turn of the last century until the mid-1970s, young men, in particular, lined up to take an apprenticeship. But, as the skilled trades began to be seen as less attractive, more students opted for college.
But, ever since COVID-19, the supply chain failures and the failures of the student loan system, young men—and women—are returning to the trades. With trade schools still ramping up enrollment, it is up to individual service businesses to pick up the slack.
That is why Gen Z’s future may lie in the new era of apprenticeships.
At C & C, we encourage young people to enter the trades. We are investing in young workers by hiring young workers straight out of trade school and, sometimes, with no training at all.
For more information about C & C, call us at (586) 439-3319 or contact us online to learn more about our hiring practices.
