by Jimmy Lehoux
Since the early ’90s we have been told, “If you do not go to college you will never be successful,” but where has this gotten us? An entire generation believes that getting into college debt is the only option for creating an employable future. Many college graduates are taking jobs in unrelated fields, and there is a major gap in the number of students entering trades or even exploring vocational opportunities.
But, trades are a viable alternative. Plumbing, electrical, mechanical, hardscape, and carpentry have taken a back seat because we are not promoting them in our public schools. The results are that over 1.5 million opportunities in the trade industry are currently unfilled. Also, our present trade workforce is aging without being replaced in significant numbers. This construction industry gap presents a major problem for homeowners, property developers, and, ultimately, our infrastructure. Who will be there to do the work in the next five, 10, or 15 years?
It seems to me that over the course of time our public education system has taken a wrong turn. I believe it is time to make a U-turn in our perceptions about trade education and start showing students (as young as seventh grade) that there are alternatives to college. Just imagine the positive results of a junior high student recognizing that their natural hands-on abilities are positive? Envision how this would boost their self-esteem and the things they could achieve? Nourishing their hopes towards a career in trade has endless possibilities for them, as well as the future of construction.
For this reason, we need to reshape the public school system’s perceptions about trade education and present it as a viable and alternative path to traditional education. Like college-focused learning, trade instruction is rigorous, requiring a lot of personal time to complete. But, it is more likely to provide a good-paying job out of high school while the student is still learning and honing their craft.
Additionally, I believe that it would be immeasurably valuable to include trade-focused job fairs alongside traditional college fairs when the student is old enough to intern. It’s time that we rate our schools based on success achieved in a field regardless of the vocation.
Let’s remember that success comes in all forms, and we need to reassess all the viable options for today’s graduating classes, because today’s students are tomorrow’s workforce.
Jimmy Lehoux
Jimmy Lehoux is the PROCON subcontractor ambassador.
