‘Graduate high school. Attend a 4-year college. Get a well-paying job instantly in a career you enjoy.’ This is the most popular advice given to young people, but it is not the only possibility. While college is a practical next step for some, others may not like to take on an average of $30,731 in student loans – particularly for a career they are not passionate about. And some college graduates join the workforce only to discover that the career they chose does not provide the salary or job happiness they thought it would. But skilled trades enable you to learn as you earn, building a strong career through hands-on experience while earning in the skilled trades jobs.
How Skilled Trade Jobs Can Be Your Great Career Option
If you are on the fence about whether a trade is good for you, here are 5 reasons construction and industrial trades are impressive career choices.
1. The Trade Jobs Are Almost Always Plentiful
In recent years, demand for tradespeople has continued steadily. But Robert Dietz, PhD and leading economist for the National Home Builders Association, notified Working Nation that though job vacancies in construction were increased in 2019 than before the Great Recession, there are not sufficient professionals to fill them.
Part of the dilemma is the ageing workforce. As older tradespeople retire, the sum of young people entering the workforce is not replacing them fast enough. Many United States high schools have cut shop classes and training programs while disproportionately emphasising college as the next effort for students.
Though the covid-19 outbreak led to the loss of jobs across businesses, we will see demand for trade jobs improve as the housing market proceeds with a trend upward and construction sites open back up across the nation.
2. Most Skilled Labour Careers Have Tremendous Job Security
Even in times of financial downturns, the trades prove to be a resilient career option. Though new construction and remodelling employment may be put on hold, tradespeople who conserve existing buildings – like plumbers, electricians and masons – may uncover their work to be safer during a recession.
3. You Can Receive Over $50,000 Each Year – And Even More While Learning Trades
How much you earn in your job depends on which authorized trade you choose, how much practice you receive, how long you are in the field and more. But the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2019 report revealed that the average salary for construction and extraction occupations was $50,580, and the top 78% of skilled labourer jobs made $60,940.
The same report found that the:
- The average electrician’s salary is $63,370 annually.
- The average earnings for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters are $60,000 annually.
- The average carpenter’s salary is $50,820 per year.
4. You Can Make Money As A Trading Intern While Gaining Hands-on Experience
For most employment in the industrial or construction business, you can learn by becoming an apprentice – either through a conventional skilled labour internship program or through an employer who is glad to train you.
As an intern, you will gain on-the-job trade experience while earning a salary. And as your abilities improve, you can make more wealth, even as an intern. While traditional apprenticeships are often unpaid or only offer a small salary, trade programs like plumbing internships are designed to deliver comfortable earnings while you learn.
Journeyman License
After clearing required exams or certifications for your trade, you may work as a journeyman – someone who can work under their journeyman license rather than the employer’s licence. Finally, you can apply to evolve into a master of your trade, which can help you begin your own business if that is something you want to do.
Though you will possibly need to complete some classroom work as you evolve through your career in skilled trades, you will have the benefit of gaining experience and making wealth along the way.
5. Trade school can be more adequate than college from a time & money standpoint.
Not anyone can join trade and attend a technological school or city college but executing so can give you a boost in the skilled labour job market. After clearing high school, you can apply for a traditional vocational program at a trade school in the specialisation that you like.
Trade school is more adequate than college for some because it usually only takes anywhere from several months to 2 years. As college student loans can leave pupils low on money after graduating, a vocational school can give you the expertise you need and get into the employment field more rapidly with less debt.
Taking the Next Step
If these explanations sound appealing to you, the next step is research. You will want to decide what you want your job to look like, do some research and form a plan. Connect with specialists already in the business and talk to them about their business paths. Then, use all that you have found to charge forward with your current vocation.
