Career Education

 

The application rate for young people seeking technical jobs - like plumbing, building and electrical work - dropped by 49% in 2022 compared to 2020, according to data from online recruiting platform Handshake shared with NPR. While the creation of technical positions has continued to grow, the number of students interested in applying for them - hasn't.

Occupations such as auto technician with aging workforces have the U.S. Chamber of Commerce warning of a "massive" shortage of skilled workers in 2023.

"For a long time, our society has not talked favorably about the skilled trades," said Cruzvergara. "We've instead encouraged students to all go to college, all go to four-year institutions, graduate, go out into white collar jobs." 

                                                                             From Here   

Going along with the two previous posts, we need journeyman trades people but if they don't know about them, they won't be seeking out a job in them. What many people in education fail to realize or remember, the ultimate purpose of a high school education is job preparation. Upon graduation, the three options are: go directly into the work force, the military or higher education. The military and higher education normally only delay the entry into a career path, but eventually, everyone needs a job.  Actually, there is a fourth option if you wish to consider living on the dole or down in mom's basement, but that's not the purpose of education, nor does it pay all that well. 

I'm certainly not against higher education or the military, but most of the time students have to pick just one path, rather than everyone being exposed to the skilled trades, and it wouldn't hurt for all of them to spend a little time in a Family & Consumer Science class, either. There have been all sorts of things proposed to correct this problem, but it's still with us and I'm guessing it will be for at least the immediate future. I don't know what effect the last two years of education under covid restrictions will have on attracting people to the trades, but I'm guessing an education by Zoom does not a craftsman make.

I taught high school "shop classes" for 36 years and battled with administrators and counselors on this topic much more than should have been necessary with only limited results. Not much I can do now, either. But something needs to change. All of us need to be promoters of skilled craftspeople earning a decent living. 

The guys showed up yesterday to install the fireplace insert. They needed an oxy-acetylene torch to cut out part of the old firebox and deflector and when the guy tried lighting the torch, he wasn't having much luck. I offered my assistance and gave him a quick lesson on the operation and adjustment and he was off and running. He wasn't doing the best job of cutting but I wasn't going to get suited up and stick my head in there. He should've took a shop class.

 Apparently, they were missing something to complete the installation, so they should be back today to finish it up. The weather is going to be unseasonably warm for a while still, but we should be all set by the time the cold weather returns.

It got up to 48 yesterday, so I was out taking advantage of the warmth and sunshine. I cut the sides for the trailer to size and trimmed up some trees and brush, cleaned up the garage and the woodshop. Depending on what's happening with the fireplace install, I'll make the remaining parts for the stake sides today. I'm loving this warm weather. Sure makes it easy to get out of the house.