Carpenter Contractor Trust’s Post

🧐 I've been curious about this for years. In fact, I still struggle to understand why more young adults don't pursue this path. Maybe influencers making it cool will help? If you can’t access the piece, I pulled some highlights and the broader trends we're seeing with Whitmer Consulting LLC clients. ➡ Financial: Trade jobs offer lucrative pay without the burden of student loans. Most apprentices also earn while they learn. It's not uncommon for journeymen to hit $100k early in their careers in this market. And that's before the enormous value in the fringe benefits. ➡ Community: Union membership in the trades is a community, where there's advocacy for workers’ rights and opportunities for continuous advancement. ➡ Work-life balance: Trade jobs often come with flexible hours and the ability to maintain a healthy work-life balance. ➡ Empowerment: Skilled trades create paths to becoming your own boss. (H/t to Adam Sherman for dropping the link first thing this morning). #SkilledTrades #GenZCareers #VocationalTraining #BlueCollarCool #TradeJobs #CareerInspiration #WorkforceDevelopment #FutureOfWork #EconomicEmpowerment #JobSecurity #CommunitySupport #TradeInfluencers

Construction is Tech Tech is Construction Seperating the two today is an impossibility- from tools, equipment, design, systems, smart facilities, networks and more there is tech at every level of todays construction!

One of the hardest jobs to automate will be in the construction trades. You can even use that expertise to become a successful content creator, and monetize your audience by showcasing your construction expertise. Both skilled trades and healthcare offer great outlooks for job security and growth in the coming years. #Jobs #Careers #FutureofJobs #AI

Some 2.2 million people on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook watch Lexis Czumak-Abreu do her electrician work. Maybe you’re one of them. Did you see her atop a bucket truck, working on power poles? Or stripping cables in a ditch? Since she began posting videos, she’s gotten thousands of messages from viewers saying she’s sparked their interest in trade work. Czumak-Abreu’s path is one that more young Americans are considering, Te-Ping Chen reports. Skepticism about the cost and value of four-year degrees is growing, and enrollment in vocational programs has risen as young people pursue well-paying jobs that don’t require desks or so much debt, and come with the potential to be your own boss. The number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges rose 16% last year to its highest level since the National Student Clearinghouse began tracking such data in 2018. On TikTok, the hashtag #bluecollar drew 500k posts in the first four months of this year, up 64% over the same period in 2023. Posts hashtagged #electrician increased 77% over the same time, with #constructionworker and #mechanic posting similar jumps, TikTok says. Many posts tout the wages blue-collar workers can make. Pay for new hires in construction now outstrips pay for new hires in professional services like accounting, according to ADP data. Skilled-trade influencers say they’re also trying to combat decades of stereotypes in which practitioners were seen as grease monkeys or stuck in low-end careers. See how young workers are making trade jobs cool: https://lnkd.in/etHHSQcY

Gen Z is tearing down the stereotypes that have been built around a career in the trades. More and more, we are seeing this generation recognize that a four-year degree isn't the only option, and there is more than one path to success and happiness in your career. These are the shifts the industry needs to help address the skilled trades gap. It's inspiring to hear first hand from young tradesmen and women the positive impact that a career in the trades is already having on their lives. Read the full The Wall Street Journal article here: https://lnkd.in/ggAHG27q

Instead of taking out a predatory loan they'll never be able to pay off to obtain a degree in a white-collar field riddled with uncertainty, Gen Z has (smartly) pivoted to the trades. As reported in The Wall Street Journal yesterday, the number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges rose 16% last year to its highest level since tracking began in 2018. With more workers ditching degrees, companies are pivoting as well. In my research last year for Capterra (which I'll 🔗 in the comments), 47% of recruiters said their employer had already or planned to drop college degree requirements from at least some job openings by 2030. If you're still requiring college degrees on job openings, you could unintentionally be missing out on top talent--especially younger workers that increasingly can't afford a degree. In lieu of requiring degrees, #HR departments and recruiters should: 🎯 Prioritize skills-based hiring 💻 Recognize the quality of top-tier "alternative credentials" like coding bootcamps and industry certifications Have you removed college degree requirements from job openings at your employer? If so, how has it affected your hiring? Let me know in the comments.

I'm glad to see more recognition of the skilled trades and the talented individuals who excel in them. Their influence on social media is not just entertaining; it's inspiring a new generation to consider careers that don't necessarily require a traditional four-year degree. The rising interest in vocational programs and apprenticeships reflects a shift in attitudes towards well-paying jobs that offer tangible skills and opportunities for entrepreneurship. It's heartening to see the stereotypes surrounding blue-collar work being challenged by influencers like Chloe Hudson and Matt Panella, who demonstrate the diversity and success within these fields. As someone who values the importance of skilled trades, I wholeheartedly support initiatives that promote these careers to young people. Social media platforms have become powerful tools for showcasing the rewards and possibilities of working in the trades, and it's encouraging to see companies like Pfister Faucets investing in content that highlights the lives of tradespeople. While it's essential to acknowledge the physical demands and challenges associated with trade work, it's also important to recognize the satisfaction and fulfillment that can come from mastering a craft and contributing to essential industries. As David Coleman's story demonstrates, success in the trades isn't just about financial gain; it's about finding purpose and balance in one's life. Encouraging more young people to pursue careers in skilled trades is not only beneficial for them individually; it also strengthens our economy and society as a whole. Let's continue to support and celebrate the skilled trades and the individuals who keep our infrastructure running smoothly.

Great article in the The Wall Street Journal, Gen Z Plumbers and Construction Workers Are Making #BlueCollar Cool: https://lnkd.in/eJ4ZQEDp; It's remarkable to witness Gen Z's renewed interest in skilled trades and blue-collar work. With a 16% increase in enrollments at vocational-focused community colleges, more young people are recognizing the value and opportunities within these fields. This shift is not just about avoiding debt from a four-year degree; it's about embracing rewarding and well-paying careers. The pay for new construction hires now surpasses that of some professional services, making trades an increasingly attractive option. It's exciting to see this resurgence and the positive impact it will have on the industry and our economy. Credit: #LinkedInNews Story this morning: https://lnkd.in/gHzbrn-D What are your thoughts? Join the conversation, tell us below! #GenZ #SkilledTrades #VocationalEducation #CareerOpportunities #BlueCollarPride #newcollar #WorkforceDevelopment

🔧 Exciting News! 🔨 The trend of Gen Z workers making blue-collar work cool again is set to reshape the workforce landscape this summer and in the years to come. With more young people inspired to pursue careers in trades like plumbing and construction, we’re anticipating a surge in activity and interest within these industries. This presents a unique opportunity for businesses to tap into a fresh pool of talent and drive innovation and modernization in blue-collar sectors. Over the next five years, we can expect to see a revitalization of these industries, leading to greater economic empowerment for individuals and communities. Let’s embrace and support this trend for a more diverse and robust workforce! #BlueCollarRevolution 💪🔵

It is worth noting here that prior to my "professional consulting" career, I was a "blue collar" worker, ala Mike Rowe "Dirty Jobs" digging ditches and pushing a wheelbarrow in blazing heat, rain, and mud. fixing toilets, repairing sewer lines, building and remodeling houses, and as a machinist. This paved the way for me to get my first modest home, and training in computers to get my white collar job I have today. Side benefit that people do not talk about much: all my experience in my blue collar life pays back in being able to unclog my own toilet, fix my cars, and do many of those "dirty jobs" myself. I have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in my lifetime (I am 63) because I "invested" in those trade skills.