By Mary Klett, ASA Communications team
Think back…or maybe it’s still fresh in your minds. Did your parents support your decision to become a welder? Truck driver? A mechanic? Did they want you to go to college first? Parents, as the primary influencers and caregivers in a child’s life, wield immense power in shaping their offspring’s career choices. From an early age, children look up to their parents for guidance and approval. Parents serve as role models, offering insights into various professions and nurturing interests through engagement. A supportive environment at home promotes open dialogue about career aspirations and encourages children to explore their passions.
We’ve written before about the Be Pro Be Proud program, where high school students get hands-on experience learning about automation & robotics, CAD/CAM drafter, CNC operator, truck driver, computer programmer, construction services, diesel technician, electrician, fiber optic technician, lineman, HVACR technician…and a bunch of other trades. I wonder how many kids go home so excited about what they did at school, only to get the side-eye from their parents. End of discussion. Maybe show parents how wages in the trades have gone up 15-20 percent in the past two years.
If we want more kids to go into trades, we need to educate the parents as well. Students and parents (once they see the high tuition costs) are beginning to reevaluate whether a college education is still the golden ticket to financial success. But it’s a slow process. Tell them: A four-year college graduate’s average salary is about $43k to $65k per year, and the cost of education is around $140k. Conversely, the cost of a tradesman’s education is about $33k, taking about two years to complete. Average pay for a skilled technician is $54k – $67k/year – not counting overtime.
While the lack of trades professionals has been in the news for about the past ten years, there’s been little action. Now…
About 34 percent of all companies are starting to partner with high schools and trade schools to drum up interest in the trades. But who’s reaching out to the parents?
Check out Stanley Black & Decker’s “Maker’s Index” survey results. – Most students think skilled trades are a good career option, but just 16% are very likely to consider it, with most of them underestimating the income potential for a skilled trade career.
With one-third of all companies starting to partner with high schools and trade schools to drum up interest in the trades, the timing is perfect for parents to give more consideration to whether a trades career is the better choice for their child than college.
One does not need to sit in an office to be worthy of the term “professional.” For individuals drawn to hands-on technical projects, a trades career offers opportunities for professional advancement and compensation and, of course, satisfaction. How can we get this message out to parents so they are equipped to talk to their High Schoolers? We need a commitment from liaisons such as guidance counselors, parenting forums and career fairs to bring trades professions to the forefront. That commitment requires companies and trades organization to make sure “marketing to parents” is part of their outreach plan. Let’s make it happen.
