It is important for our students to know all of their options after high school graduation. How many students are interested in getting to work in the trades?

Answer: 47%

Questions:

• Have you ever considered taking a CTE (career and technical education) or occupational education class? Why or why not? 
• Demand for skilled trade jobs currently exceeds the supply of workers to fill them. Why do you think that is the case? 
• You are hired by a local company that needs more electricians. They want to recruit students from your high school and want you to answer this question: "What do you think it will take to make these skilled trade jobs more attractive for high school students?" What would you say?

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (Fast Company):

• Gen Z has a high opinion of skilled trade: 73% of the young adult survey respondents said they respect skilled trade as a career, putting it second only to medicine (77%).
• They’re exploring it for themselves: 47% were interested in pursuing a career in a trade. And more than 80% said there are benefits to a skilled trade over a desk job, with the top benefits being a more flexible schedule, a faster educational path to working, a less expensive education and less debt, and the ability to be your own boss. Another 74% said they believe skilled trade jobs won’t be replaced by AI.

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Looking for more career-related resources from NGPF? Look no further. 

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NGPF's Alternatives to 4-Year Colleges unit is great for students considering a career in the trades.

About the Author

Ryan Wood

Ryan is the Partnerships and Adoption Manager for Next Gen Personal Finance’s midwest region. He brings his experience as a former teacher, curriculum designer, and sales and marketing professional to state organizations and school districts in supporting the implementation of their personal financial education efforts. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and earned his teaching credential from Saint Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota. He proudly taught at two rural high schools in Wisconsin before transitioning to curriculum design at NGPF, and is now excited to be on the front lines in delivering the best possible financial education in the midwest. He and his wife have three beautiful daughters, each of which inspire him to share the impact of being sound financial stewards both at home and as lifelong learners.