Triangle East Chamber ’s Post

https://lnkd.in/eGNqRS6H As someone who broke his mother's heart by leaving college after two weeks, I find it great to see good reporting on this issue coming to a national audience. For my mom's generation, earning a college degree was a path to financial security and not having a broken back. She was pushing me in the direction she believed in. However, the value of skilled workers has changed. So has the value of a college education, compared to the cost. Parents are on the lookout for their kids, so they need to be educated about the opportunities in skilled labor as much as the kids do. Trade schools are looking to step up to the plate but also need to hear from the construction and manufacturing industries about our needs. The issue has much more attention of late, but much more work is required to make the attention impactful. Thoughts?

Will Gen Z answer the call for the labor shortage in the skilled trades? According to the WSJ's recent article, the pendulum in swinging in favor of blue collar work. For many young people, a career within the skilled trades is a no-brainer. While manufacturing technology has advanced and pay has increased, college degrees have become more expensive and less valuable. Further, the resilience of the trades emerged after non-essential businesses were shut down in 2020 and as AI begins to eliminate many office roles. “More people realized that the skilled trades were reliable, well-paying paths that weren’t going away". The tide can't turn quickly enough. With the current labor shortage, opportunities are endless for apprentices to take the reins from retiring baby boomers. American Welding Society, Drew Crowe

The skilled trades are newly appealing to the youngest cohort of American workers as enrollment in vocational training programs is surging, rising 16% last year to its highest level since tracking such data began in 2018. The Wall Street Journal article below explores the factors impacting the increase and how a shortage of skilled tradespeople and diversion from the traditional college path have affected the shift. #labor #GenZ

The skilled trades are newly appealing to the youngest cohort of American workers as enrollment in vocational training programs is surging, rising 16% last year to its highest level since tracking such data began in 2018. The Wall Street Journal article below explores the factors impacting the increase and how a shortage of skilled tradespeople and diversion from the traditional college path have affected the shift. #labor #GenZ

The skilled trades are newly appealing to the youngest cohort of American workers as enrollment in vocational training programs is surging, rising 16% last year to its highest level since tracking such data began in 2018. The Wall Street Journal article below explores the factors impacting the increase and how a shortage of skilled tradespeople and diversion from the traditional college path have affected the shift. #labor #GenZ

The skilled trades are newly appealing to the youngest cohort of American workers as enrollment in vocational training programs is surging, rising 16% last year to its highest level since tracking such data began in 2018. The Wall Street Journal article below explores the factors impacting the increase and how a shortage of skilled tradespeople and diversion from the traditional college path have affected the shift. #labor #GenZ

The skilled trades are newly appealing to the youngest cohort of American workers as enrollment in vocational training programs is surging, rising 16% last year to its highest level since tracking such data began in 2018. The Wall Street Journal article below explores the factors impacting the increase and how a shortage of skilled tradespeople and diversion from the traditional college path have affected the shift. #labor #GenZ

“Long beset by a labor crunch, the skilled trades are newly appealing to the youngest cohort of American workers, many of whom are choosing to leave the college path. Rising pay and new technologies in fields from welding to machine tooling are giving trade professions a face-lift…” In this impactful article from The Wall Street Journal, many in Gen Z are forging their own path to success by embracing the trades. This piece highlights the diverse paths available and the growing recognition of trades as a surging profession option for the “Toolbelt Generation”. With rising college costs and evolving job markets, the trades offer lucrative opportunities, particularly in advanced manufacturing. The shift is explored as many young individuals opt for vocational training and hands-on experience over a traditional degree. Gen Z is finding fulfillment and opportunity in the trades, and we see it coming to fruition every day. The Apprenticeship Program of Autocam Medical continues to go strong!

These are the faces of Mississippi's future! It's crucial that these bright young minds are equipped with the knowledge to seize every opportunity for rewarding careers. Skills That Pay is paving the way for good jobs, stability, and a high quality of life by educating key stakeholders on the wealth of opportunities across the state 🌟 #msskillsfoundation #mspathfinder #msworkforce #mscareers #acceleratems #msjobs #skillsthatpay #MississippiFuture