With the continuing escalation of costs for higher learning and recent concerns about the protests on college campuses, some parents and young adults are starting to rethink an expensive four-year university degree. With the current labor shortage, there has been an emerging movement, specifically for Gen-Zs, to pursue a career path in the skilled trades.
To learn more about this field, I spoke with Angie Hicks, the cofounder of Angi, formerly known as Angie’s List, an online resource for finding local service providers. Hicks cofounded Angie’s List in 1995 after her boss, William Oesterle, asked her to procure a reliable construction contractor in Columbus, Ohio. When they had difficulties finding the right tradesperson, the duo came up with the concept of a two-sided marketplace for consumers and tradespeople to connect on projects.
During the telephone interview, Hicks indicated that she is bullish on the trades, as professionals can enter the workforce and start earning much sooner, while avoiding substantial student debt. Jobs in the trades are well-paying and offer growth, solid benefits and pensions through unions and the opportunity to become an entrepreneur and your own boss.
With a trade skill, you can pursue a career directly aligned with what you are good at and passionate about. This avoids having to “settle” for jobs outside of your field of study after completing an expensive four-year degree.
Moreover, a new study from Angi on Tuesday shows an uptick in job satisfaction for skilled trades workers since the pandemic. The Skilled Trades in America Report also explores the impact of artificial intelligence, the labor shortage and solutions to attract new talent to the trades.
“These are highly satisfying and secure jobs, critical to America’s infrastructure and economy,” Hicks said in a statement. “More people are starting to recognize this, but we need to continue to educate new job seekers about the incredible potential a career in the skilled trades holds.”
The Skilled Trades In America
Nearly 90% of skilled tradespeople, like plumbers, electricians and general contractors, report being highly satisfied with their careers. Respondents attributed their high job satisfaction to finding “meaning and value” in their work, their overall compensation and having flexibility in their schedules.
While workers in other industries fear becoming obsolete due to the advancement of AI, the report highlights that skilled tradespeople perceive AI-resistant career options and paths within their field. About 65% of workers surveyed believe their trades jobs are safe from the threat of AI, while only 11% are concerned about AI replacing them in the workforce.
The trades industry is already facing a significant labor shortage, with 40% of employers reporting they could not find new hires to fill vacant positions. Sixty-six percent indicated that they could scale their business if only they could hire more workers. To entice workers, business owners said they have boosted health insurance benefits, in addition to offering wage hikes and flexible work schedules.
Young People Joining The Trades
Younger tradespeople between the ages of 25 and 44 are more optimistic about the future of the labor shortage compared to older workers, according to the report. However, they feel stigmas around trade roles are preventing more young people from entering these fields, as well as the lack of exposure to trade career paths in high schools across the U.S.
To address the shortage, 65% of respondents said increased investment in high school trade prep programs would help, while 54% expressed the desire for more funding for trade schools.
To attract more talent to the trades, Angi has launched the Angi Trade Up Initiatives program, which includes scholarships for trade school students, connecting job seekers with professionals on its platform and an awareness campaign highlighting the benefits of trade careers.
“Through our Angi Trade Up Initiatives, we’re working to bridge the gap and ensure a strong future for the skilled trade industry,” Hicks stated. “We don’t want to be a country that has homes, but no plumbers. Yards, but no landscapers. Behind every home in America is a team of people taking care of it from the HVAC tech to the general contractor.”
The Benefits Of A Career In The Trades
A higher demand for tradespeople means bigger opportunities for anyone looking to join the trades. The benefits include, according to Angi research:
- Autonomy: Fifty percent of skilled tradespeople are their own bosses through entrepreneurship.
- Decreased Debt: Tradespeople who forego a bachelor’s degree enter the workforce with over $26,000 less debt on average.
- Higher Earning Potential: Plumbers, electricians and general contractors earn an average of 22%, 29% and 53% more than other U.S. workers across sectors.
- Job Security: Jobs in the skilled trades are future-proof, as AI will not be doing home repairs any time soon.
Source: Forbes
