Skilled trades on the rise as college enrollment sags

Both of Dan Tague’s parents earned bachelor’s degrees. So did his older sister and brother.

But as his turn approached, Tague, 20, saw a different route. In high school, he designed sets for plays and enrolled in any “hands-on” classes he could. By the time he graduated, he decided he wanted to be an electrician.

His mom and dad needed no convincing.

“They knew right out of the gate, you have a paycheck,” he said.

After years of decline, the skilled trades are experiencing a renaissance, propelled by young adults like Tague. Soaring college tuition and student debt have upended the long-held belief that higher education is the key to success.

And the stigma that many of Generation Z’s parents held about careers in carpentry or mechanics is crumbling.

Enrollment in four-year schools has flatlined, while vocation-focused community colleges experienced 16% growth in the past year, the biggest jump since the National Student Clearinghouse began tracking such data in 2018.

Mechanical and repair programs saw 8% enrollment gains in the past year; precision machinery classes grew by 7.5%.

Students studying construction ticked up by about 1% last year, but their ranks have increased by almost 14% over the past five years.

More and more employers are partnering with high schools to grab the attention of teenagers early.

Community colleges and trade schools are offering new certifications and building new facilities. Young adults are being pulled onto a cheaper, quicker path to the workforce.

No debt, no delays.

This summer, Tague began an earn-and-learn apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

In a couple of years, he should have his journeyman’s license.

After another two years, he will become a master electrician and, he figures, will bring in about $80,000 annually.

Ticket to the middle class

Over a lifetime, college graduates typically earn more and have higher employment rates than those without four-year degrees. But within those broad categories, the discrepancies can shrink — or even disappear— based on the field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, for example, the median income for plumbers was $61,500 last year — almost $3,000 more than social workers.

And students who graduated in 2023 with bachelor’s degrees carried an average of about $30,000 in debt, according to the College Board.

Community and technical colleges have also focused on secondary schools, visiting counseling offices and hosting career fairs and “try-it” days.

Sharon Brueggemann, vice president of education at Ranken Technical College, refers to high school teachers and counselors as “influencers.” Once they are on board, the kids will follow. The popularity of robotics teams and coding camps have helped the skilled trades shake off a reputation as “dirty” work done by people who don’t land at a university.

The pandemic shifted mindsets, too. College enrollment fell. White-collar jobs weathered layoffs. Burnout spread through industries such as education and health care.

But the prospects in building and manufacturing boomed.

“Everyone needed tradespeople during COVID,” Brueggemann said.

Ranken students have a 98% job placement rate, said Brueggemann. Often, they secure positions before their first year of classes is over.

“By the time they graduate, it’s too late for employers,” she said.

A shortage of workers has plagued many professions, especially plumbing and HVAC, as the number of retirees surpasses trainees.

More than a third of tradespeople are older than 50, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But the recent surge in interest has chipped away at the workforce deficit.