Backed by strong bipartisan support, career and technical education programs are flourishing, and careers are projected to experience faster-than-average job growth from 2023 to 2033.
They also offer earning potential that exceeds the median wage across all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Wakefield Research
New research was led alone by Wakefield Research showed that 47% of parents had a child
It is, perhaps for these reasons, that 89% of parents with children currently enrolled in high school or college think it’s smart for young adults to consider pursuing a career in the trades, taking into account the job market, economy, and college debt.
The new research that was conducted independently by Wakefield Research also revealed that 47% of parents have had their child mention wanting to go into a trade, and 86% of parents would be open or encourage it.
Benefits of choosing careers in the skilled trades
To raise awareness for the abundance and evolution of trade careers, skilled trade associations, and building trade unions, including the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA), the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART), and International Training Institute (ITI) have come together to launch the first National Careers In Trades Week (April 7-11, 2025).
Activities throughout the week will increase awareness about the benefits of choosing careers in the skilled trades among job seekers and the American public, with the goal of filling thousands of positions that are essential to the country’s economic growth.
Ranging from construction to manufacturing
BLS occupational outlook predicts about 663,000 construction job openings each year
BLS occupational outlook predicts about 663,000 construction job openings each year and showed a median annual wage of $55,000 in 2023, higher than that of all occupations.
Furthermore, the Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Program provides training and education for hundreds of thousands of workers in fields ranging from construction to manufacturing to public administration.
How trade careers have evolved technologically and financially
Within the sheet metal industry, training and working with union contractors can offer even greater rewards with apprentices earning up to $87,500 in their first year and as much as $120,000 to $200,000 in wages and benefits within four to five years of completing an apprenticeship program.
“Skilled professions play critical roles in building the world in which we live, work, and play – vital to the construction of chip plants, stadiums, healthcare facilities, factories, and data centers. It’s time that we provide a fresh look at how trade careers have evolved technologically and financially,” said SMACNA CEO Aaron Hilger.
Opportunities to learn innovative techniques
Technological advances, including AI, drones, and laser welding, are redefining skilled trades
Hilger added: “With approximately 35,000 sheet metal workers due to retire, the time to raise awareness of the opportunities and benefits among young workers is now.” In fact, according to recent data, members of Generation Z, now being called the Toolbelt Generation, are attracted to the trades as an alternative to college debt and immediate entrance to a rewarding and well-paying job.
Technological advancements, including AI, drones, and laser welding, for example, also are redefining what it means to work in a skilled trade. This work also provides the chance to make a lasting impact on the world through the construction of critical infrastructure and continuous opportunities to learn innovative techniques for solving complex problems.
Data from Thumbtack
Additional data from Thumbtack shows about 9 in 10 Gen Z graduates believe choosing a career in a skilled trade can offer a more reliable path to economic security than college.
The findings also reveal there is near equal interest among Gen Z women and men in the trades (52 percent vs 57 percent, respectively) – signaling a major shift from previous generations.
Specialized training or apprenticeships
Key examples include sheet metal workers, HVAC technicians, electricians, welders, plumbers
As categorized by the BLS, skilled trades encompass a wide range of professions that typically require specialized training or apprenticeships that are essential for industries such as construction, manufacturing, energy and transportation.
Key examples include sheet metal workers, HVAC technicians, electricians, pipefitters, welders, plumbers, masons, and carpenters among many more.
Next generation of trade workers
“Union apprenticeships aren’t just a career path. They’re a gateway to a stable, rewarding future."
"By investing in the next generation of trade workers, we’re building a skilled workforce that will power our industries and communities for decades to come,” said Michael Coleman, SMART General President.
