By Mary Kelly
The skilled trades sector presents accessible, well-paying and meaningful career paths, yet the United States faces a significant shortage of skilled labor. That gap affects the broader economy and many high school seniors who may not be aware of the training and career options available to them after graduation.
Research has highlighted the scale of the issue: a 2018 Deloitte study estimated that roughly 2.4 million skilled trade positions could go unfilled between 2018 and 2028, creating a potential economic impact measured in the trillions of dollars. This shortfall is the result of many factors, but a central problem is a lack of clear information and awareness about vocational and technical education.
For decades, society has elevated the four-year college degree as the default path to success. Many high schools focus their counseling and resources on preparing students for university, while vocational and technical programs receive much less attention. In reality, skilled trades offer financial security, fast return on investment, and strong career stability for people who prefer hands-on work or shorter, targeted post-secondary programs.
As CEO of StrataTech Education Group, I and my colleagues work year-round to correct misconceptions about trade careers, to show the high demand for skilled professionals, and to explain the kinds of programs that lead to long-term, rewarding jobs.
Key findings from our survey
This year, StrataTech Education Group conducted a survey to gauge how high school students and their parents view trade education and skilled trade careers. The survey split respondents evenly between current high school students and parents of high school students. The major takeaways were:
- Students and parents are open to trade education, but both groups want more information before making a decision. Only 32 percent of respondents said their high school actively promotes trade school programs as a post-graduation option.
- About 51 percent of students said they have considered trade school but face barriers to making an informed choice. The most common obstacles they reported include:
- Uncertainty about what programs and careers are available
- Concerns about overall cost
- Lack of confidence in their ability to perform a skilled trade
- Social and community pressure to pursue a four‑year university degree
- Parents are largely supportive of trade careers: 93 percent of parent respondents view trade schools as a credible and viable path and say they would support their child pursuing post-secondary trade education.
- Overall, both students and parents increasingly view trade schools as credible alternatives to traditional college, especially when the goal is a stable, high-quality standard of living.
Given these results, it is concerning that the skills gap keeps widening despite evident interest and parental support. The shortage of qualified workers has driven wages up in many trades, while the financial returns from a bachelor’s degree are less certain for many graduates. Tuition costs and student debt remain major challenges, yet students are still frequently funneled toward a traditional four-year path—even as shorter, less expensive training programs for high-paying trade jobs go unnoticed or underutilized. This mismatch affects individual career choices and poses a real challenge to the economy.
Skilled trades provide many routes to a solid career. Most technical programs require only a few months to a couple of years of classroom and hands-on lab training, and graduates typically enter the workforce quickly. In the current labor market, trade salaries are often competitive with or exceed the national average. Experienced professionals in fields like welding, HVAC, and electrical work can earn very strong incomes, and many trade careers offer clear opportunities for advancement and entrepreneurship.
Not a one-size-fits-all approach
Education should match the individual. Recognizing that academic and career goals vary, we are partnering with secondary schools to introduce skilled trades awareness programs and to present vocational education positively from an earlier age. Students need to understand the range of options available so they can make informed decisions that align with their talents, interests, and lifestyle—rather than following only the cultural expectation of a four-year college.
For information about StrataTech Education Group, our schools, and current trends in the skilled trades industry, see: www.weldingschool.com
About the author
Mary Kelly joined StrataTech Education Group in 2010 as Chief Operating Officer. Shortly after, she was elevated to President, and in 2011 she became President and Chief Executive Officer.
Mary brings more than twenty years of experience in postsecondary education across both for-profit and non-profit sectors, including roles at Bryant & Stratton Business College, Lincoln Educational Services, New School University, and Hudson Valley Community College. She also served as Chief Academic Officer for the American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay.
Mary holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Master of Arts in English Education, and a Master of Science in Educational Policy and Administration from the University at Albany.
This article was originally published by The Learning Counsel, a research institute and news media hub focused on the shift to digital curriculum in education.
Sources used:
- 2018 Deloitte study on the future of manufacturing and the skills gap: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/manufacturing/articles/future-of-manufacturing-skills-gap-study.html
- Forbes article on addressing the skilled labor shortage in America: https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahchamberlain/2019/08/21/addressing-the-skilled-labor-shortage-in-america/#6beeb96b181d
- NPR coverage of high-paying trade jobs and the college enrollment trend: https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/04/25/605092520/high-paying-trade-jobs-sit-empty-while-high-school-grads-line-up-for-university