Yep. Consider the shortage of (for example) HVAC technicians. Someone entering the field at this point could easily go from entry level to running their own successful shop in a handful of years...while their peers are still racking up higher ed debt to get the terminal PhD and end up making less. The trades are a prime example of an are…
Yep. Consider the shortage of (for example) HVAC technicians. Someone entering the field at this point could easily go from entry level to running their own successful shop in a handful of years...while their peers are still racking up higher ed debt to get the terminal PhD and end up making less. The trades are a prime example of an area where someone can aim high without mortgaging their financial future. The only stigma in those areas is an artificial one created by some parents and the higher ed business model (I used to work in a university system, and the hostility we saw directed at any form of vocational or trades education was unbelievable).
We also need to understand how higher ed degrees have snuck into areas that didn't used to require them (accounting used to be an apprenticeship career, for one example).
I agree with you. It's unfortunate that the trades have fallen out of favor. I spent 10 years of my life as a silver and goldsmith in between academic careers. My brother was a master carpenter. There is little that is more satisfying than working with your hands which, by the way, also requires you to work with your brain!
Yep. Consider the shortage of (for example) HVAC technicians. Someone entering the field at this point could easily go from entry level to running their own successful shop in a handful of years...while their peers are still racking up higher ed debt to get the terminal PhD and end up making less. The trades are a prime example of an area where someone can aim high without mortgaging their financial future. The only stigma in those areas is an artificial one created by some parents and the higher ed business model (I used to work in a university system, and the hostility we saw directed at any form of vocational or trades education was unbelievable).
We also need to understand how higher ed degrees have snuck into areas that didn't used to require them (accounting used to be an apprenticeship career, for one example).
I agree with you. It's unfortunate that the trades have fallen out of favor. I spent 10 years of my life as a silver and goldsmith in between academic careers. My brother was a master carpenter. There is little that is more satisfying than working with your hands which, by the way, also requires you to work with your brain!