Recent Survey Finds Increasing Interest in Skilled Trades
A shortage of skilled trade workers, including HVAC technicians, has been a continuing trend here in the US for quite some time now, but a recent nationwide survey of 2,200 high school students indicates that Gen Z may be more open to working in skilled trades than previous generations.
- More than 50% of teens surveyed were open to something other than 4-year college
- 74% believe a career-based education makes sense today
- 67% said their success will be defined by focusing on what they enjoy, regardless of how much money they make.
ECMC Group, the nonprofit organization that conducted the study, also found that paying back student debt was the top college worry of 72% of those surveyed.
Does this mean that interest in skilled trades is on the rise? It’s too soon to tell, but if we start encouraging, rather than stigmatizing, skilled trades and stop overemphasizing 4-year colleges over career and technical education, regardless of aptitude, interest, cost, and other factors, perhaps one day soon we might see a reversal of the ongoing worker shortage.
About E.P. Homiek
E.P. Homiek Sheet Metal Fabrication & HVAC Supply, with two convenient locations in Lakewood, NJ and Union, NJ, provides one- to two-day turnaround on all residential and light commercial ductwork, as well as one- to two-hour emergency fabrication service, rapid delivery, and competitive prices. HVAC parts, supplies, and equipment lines include Goodman, Honeywell, Bryant, Bradford White, Crown Boiler, Daikin, Weil-McLain, York Commercial, Sea Breeze, Generac, Fantech, ZM, A.O. Smith, Hart & Cooley, Malco, Mueller, and many more.
