Bring back trade schools - they need funding more than

Posted on: May 7, 2021 at 09:37:53 CT

universities or college prep high schools.

“Skilled trades” topped Manpower’s Talent Shortage Survey as the hardest position to fill for four
years running.
• For every three tradesmen who retire, there’s only one trained person to fill his or her work boots.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than one-third of tradesmen are over age 50. A
tradesman’s average age is 55.
• The Hudson Institute predicts the supply of skilled laborers in the U.S. will not catch up to demand
until 2050.
• As of April 2013, the U.S. unemployment rate stands at 7.5%. Meanwhile, there are 600,000
available jobs in the skilled trades, and there aren’t enough people to fill those jobs.
• Senior level executives say the looming skilled labor shortage will cost them $50 million. And one
third of those with revenues over $1 billion indicated it would cost them at least $100 million.
• High schools have all but eliminated shop class and have deemphasized skilled trades in their
curriculums. The result: only 6 percent of high school students consider a career in the trades.
• By 2030, 79 million skilled tradesmen will retire, while only 41 million new workers will enter the
workforce.
• Skilled tradesmen can make above-average incomes. For example, an average plumber earns an
annual salary of $51,600. By comparison, per capita income in the U.S. in 2012 for all fields was
$27,915 according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
• According to a report by Manpower, the lack of skilled tradesmen will impede the progress of
building projects and jeopardize the global economy. Ten Million new skilled workers are needed by
2020.

http://www.multivu.com/players/English/62136-national-tradesmen-day-the-hands-that-built-america/flexSwf/impAsset/document/ccad66a2-6c59-4aa1-807b-eed25dbd5ce0.pdf