Skilled trade programs are growing in popularity because they meet the needs of students who want a hands-on education. Most training programs for a career in the trades will lead to job opportunities sooner than programs at a community college or a traditional university. Employers look to schools that offer a vocational education and training because this often best meets their need for trained workers with job skills who can start being productive as soon as they are hired.
You may not realize this, but demand for skilled workers has been on the rise for more than 10 consecutive years. Today, skilled trades are among the top 10 jobs employers are finding most difficult to fill. In fact, even during the recent economic decline, demand for workers in the skilled trades never declined, as many others did.
And while a four-year college degree long has been presented as the best road to success, the skilled trades have a lot going for them, too. Consider that skilled trade programs are designed to meet specific employer demands, and most can be completed in as little as six-to-nine months to less than two years. That means being able to start a career quicker--and at less cost than spending four years in a traditional college setting.
Benefits of Skilled Trades
While job satisfaction should be a top concern, there’s no denying that the ability to earn enough to provide for you and your family is also important. Presumably, college-educated, white-collar careers bring higher salaries, but that’s not always the case. A study of average salaries suggests paychecks for trades often match – or exceed – those of other careers. When you factor in four-year university expenses and a few extra years of working, blue collar jobs begin looking even better!
Although there’s no longer any such thing as a job that’s completely secure, most of the hands-on, skilled trade jobs can’t be shipped overseas. Not only are these jobs fairly secure, there are plenty of them that need to be filled. The facts are: more tradesmen are retiring than entering the field. Plus, the job satisfaction we spoke of earlier that comes from being able to use your skills and abilities on the job just may outweigh the disengagement that comes with many other jobs.
Put it all together – good pay and security, plenty of available jobs, and better-than-average satisfaction – and it’s understandable why people are considering the blue-collar path to success instead of striving to become a white-collar worker. According to some HR professionals, it’s often easier to place trade applicants than degreed professionals.
Start your Education in Skilled Trades Today
If you’re ready to begin your education in the Skilled Trades, contact Fortis today. Fortis specializes in career trade education in HVAC, commercial driving, electrical trades, and welding. Starting your skilled trade career could be your ticket to success.
If preparing for a career in the skilled trades appeals to you, visit www.Fortis.edu to learn more about the Fortis College or Institute campuses nearest you that offer programs in Commercial Driving, Construction Management, Electrical Trades, HVAC-R (Heating, Ventilation Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration) or Welding. Gaining skills in one of those trades just may be your ticket to success.