How do you feel about your teen going to trade school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on their abilities. If they are a top student, high test scores, etc. and can get into a great college, I’d be disappointed.

If they are a mediocre student, I’d fully support trade school.

It isn’t that one path is better than the other, but I would want my child to find a path that suits their abilities and talents. Yes the world needs great plumbers and welders, but it needs great doctors and computer programmers too

People throw around being a doctor like anyone can do it as long as they have top scores. That’s not true. It takes a certain type of person to become a doctor, a certain personality type. And anyone interested in working with their hands would be bored to death sitting in front a computer.

There are students who want badly to be a doctor and they work hard towards. There are students who want to build things or fix things, that’s where their talents and abilities are even if they were valedictorian.

Welders who work industrial can earn $200,000 after experience. It’s plain snobbery to be upset at your kid having a goal as welder. I’d be happy.

What's interesting to me from this comment- I come from a family of many different kinds of physicians, down to the 5th generation of physicians on my dad's side, also a bunch of academics and lawyers, business ppl is that doctors are the sort of kids who would thrive in trade school- they work with ppl, they are service providers, and most importantly, they have to know how to work with their hands. My dad always said the difference between him (general surgeon) and a mechanic was the body that they worked on. From where I am sitting, this is mostly a class thing and as blue collar workers increasingly were squeezed out of building a good middl class life for themselves, they encouraged their kids to "class jump" to white collar work- since this has caused a huge shortage 2-3 decades later, its a great thing for kids to be able to have that choice but lets not pretend its not class based and you have to be "smarter" kid to be a doctor, it just has more snob appeal. Medicine is a trade, it's just "respectable" to use 19th century parlance. some people arent cut out to do trade work- my husband is a brilliant litigator and routinely drops and breaks things, cant even manage to hammer a nail into plaster without it crumbling, and im not much better- I love to knit but im bad at it. Some ppl dont have the dexterity to fix and build things.

Sorry, but yes, you do need to be “smart” to get through medical school and training. It also requires more years of school & training than (almost?) any other profession. Nothing wrong with being a car mechanic, but it’s not the same thing as being a surgeon.

[Anonymous]

My almost 18 year old plans to enroll in cosmetology school to get her esthetician's license. We may not agree with it but it's her passion something she has wanted to do since middle school. So we are supporting her choice but secretly hoping she changes her mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trades will eventually be replaced by cheap immigrant labor or ai/robots

Absolutely correct.

To the labor economist posting that some tradesmen make $200,000, I would note that some actors make $6,000,000, but 99.99% are waiting tables.

I would discourage someone from going into a trade because they will probably top out at $70,000 and ruin their bodies by the time they are 50.

If someone can't sit at a computer their whole lives, there are plenty of possibilities. Consultants, salespeople, and even audit CPAs are always moving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disappointed because they can do more than that.

Excuse me? Please explain?

You just want to be judgmental. You don't need me to explain.

You are the one being judgemental because you said I would hope they would do better. You cannot seem to explain your judgment of those who are in the trades as you look down your nose at them.

I hope you tell this to anyone who works on your car, plumbing, hvac, etc…

Don't be stupid. No one would tell this to the person who changes their oil, etc. because they would get themselves killed. Blue collar folks going to do what blue collar folks do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trades will eventually be replaced by cheap immigrant labor or ai/robots

Absolutely correct.

To the labor economist posting that some tradesmen make $200,000, I would note that some actors make $6,000,000, but 99.99% are waiting tables.

I would discourage someone from going into a trade because they will probably top out at $70,000 and ruin their bodies by the time they are 50.

If someone can't sit at a computer their whole lives, there are plenty of possibilities. Consultants, salespeople, and even audit CPAs are always moving.

People that sit at computers all day and/or are in the "intellectual" trade are going to be replaced by AI first. It's already happening. A lot of money/resources are being thrown at the development every day. It's an opportunity for huge cost savings and efficiency. Kids today don't have many safe routes to choose from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Daughter is forgoing college and enrolling in trade school fall 2025 to be a welder.

We are thrilled and support her 100%.

The world needs more tradespeople.

How would you feel if your teen said no to college and wants to join the trades?

If that is where her capabilities and ambitions were, then that would be fine but I wouldn't be overly excited about it.

Look, my family was blue collar, tradespeople, and so was my DH. In the rust belt. And while I think it is a good option for a lot of people who can't or shouldn't or don't want to go to college, I do think the push for the trades is done through a bit of rose-colored glasses.

True you CAN make good money in them but that is usually if you are able to own, or have some ownership, and are capable of running a business.

For the trades that go into homes, for a woman esp., there would be security and safety concerns. In addition to normal safety concerns (I've seen more than 1 electrician get electrocuted for various reasons as I used to work in a Facilities field).

And these jobs can take a horrible toll on the body, physically. They are demanding, hard jobs (again depending on the trade). All of may male relatives who worked in a trades job have some serious physical conditions (e.g., neuropathy) that come directly from the stooping, twisting, heavy lifting, etc. associated with these jobs.

So, yes, they're great. But imperfect choices too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Daughter is forgoing college and enrolling in trade school fall 2025 to be a welder.

We are thrilled and support her 100%.

The world needs more tradespeople.

How would you feel if your teen said no to college and wants to join the trades?

If that is where her capabilities and ambitions were, then that would be fine but I wouldn't be overly excited about it.

Look, my family was blue collar, tradespeople, and so was my DH. In the rust belt. And while I think it is a good option for a lot of people who can't or shouldn't or don't want to go to college, I do think the push for the trades is done through a bit of rose-colored glasses.

True you CAN make good money in them but that is usually if you are able to own, or have some ownership, and are capable of running a business.

For the trades that go into homes, for a woman esp., there would be security and safety concerns. In addition to normal safety concerns (I've seen more than 1 electrician get electrocuted for various reasons as I used to work in a Facilities field).

And these jobs can take a horrible toll on the body, physically. They are demanding, hard jobs (again depending on the trade). All of may male relatives who worked in a trades job have some serious physical conditions (e.g., neuropathy) that come directly from the stooping, twisting, heavy lifting, etc. associated with these jobs.

So, yes, they're great. But imperfect choices too.

This exactly. I would not want my kids to do a trade. Relying solely on your ability to do physical labor is a risk.

[Anonymous]

I 100% support this (and am even planning for it). I would want my kid to do it in combination with also getting a four-year degree in a traditional liberal arts discipline.

College is not job training; it's preparation for the entire life course. Not optional IMO.

[Anonymous]

I worked with tradespeople in government positions. They had worked in trades like HVAC and now were project managers and planners. They leveraged their skills and hired/managed the vendors (small business owners, tradespeople) to work on government buildings. If they had the talent, they might manage a department. So this can be a career path, along with owning a business that provides the trade to homeowners (a local plumbing business). In other words, they may be able to do something when older and won't necessarily ruin their bodies. They would have the ability to manage others, but many of us in white collar professions learn this as we go along.

[Anonymous]

My husband had a friend whose father had him and his siblings learn a trade and get a college degree. I always thought that was a good idea. It happens sometimes anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Daughter is forgoing college and enrolling in trade school fall 2025 to be a welder.

We are thrilled and support her 100%.

The world needs more tradespeople.

How would you feel if your teen said no to college and wants to join the trades?

If that is where her capabilities and ambitions were, then that would be fine but I wouldn't be overly excited about it.

Look, my family was blue collar, tradespeople, and so was my DH. In the rust belt. And while I think it is a good option for a lot of people who can't or shouldn't or don't want to go to college, I do think the push for the trades is done through a bit of rose-colored glasses.

True you CAN make good money in them but that is usually if you are able to own, or have some ownership, and are capable of running a business.

For the trades that go into homes, for a woman esp., there would be security and safety concerns. In addition to normal safety concerns (I've seen more than 1 electrician get electrocuted for various reasons as I used to work in a Facilities field).

And these jobs can take a horrible toll on the body, physically. They are demanding, hard jobs (again depending on the trade). All of may male relatives who worked in a trades job have some serious physical conditions (e.g., neuropathy) that come directly from the stooping, twisting, heavy lifting, etc. associated with these jobs.

So, yes, they're great. But imperfect choices too.

This exactly. I would not want my kids to do a trade. Relying solely on your ability to do physical labor is a risk.

+1 I know a number of tradesmen that now have pill addictions as a result. Need to get through the pain and keep working.

[Anonymous]

My oldest daughter would not be a good fit for trade school. She is very creative but doesn’t like working with her hands. My younger one would be a good fit for cosmetology school but wants to go to college. Right now she says she wants to major in business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d love it. Our family is all lawyers. We need people who know how to fix things!

What? DH is a lawyer (as am I) and he can fix anything. Literally anything. I feel like this person ^^ is lying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly? Outwardly I be okay with it (to them) but I work for Disability and know how easy it is to get a life altering (or at least job altering) injury working in a trade. So that part would worry me. So as soon as they started working I would ensure they have disability I surface and a set up for retirement since most trades are unlikely to have a 401k account.

There are a lot of trades openings in city and county governments as well as unions, which provide excellent benefits for trades people. my dad and brother both work moderately physical trade jobs and have really nice lives

Another thing to consider is retirement. People can work in office jobs much longer. Trade workers tend to leave the workforce earlier due to either disability or just not able to keep up with the physical demands of the job.

The electrician in my family retired by 60 because his skills allowed him to buy and renovate multiple investment properties. He now spends his time boating (including building his own) and splits his time between a northern beach in summer and a southern one in winter.

So yes, I’d support trades.

Sample size= 1

[Anonymous]

Twin boys.
2020 HS grads. One went to CC and got AS in construction technology other is in Biz school and will graduate 2025.
Both are talented builders.
DS1 makes 50k @21 yo and has 401k w employer match and healthcare. On track for a piece of the company if he stays. Living his dream building million dollar homes on coast of Maine.
DS2 still in school and on track to graduate w/degree in biz management and then go into building.
The trades are extraordinarily entrepreneurial and we are confident they made the right decision. They may even end up in business together. We've never seen them happier. Parents are both holders of 4 year degrees , but saw the benefits of CC or trade school for one of our sons vs. 4yr education.

The trades are a direct inject into the job market and spare you the impersonal cattle call of rejection of Indeed, LinkedIn and the like.
Employers are hungry and the jobs are waiting for kids who show drive and acumen. In most cases companies will pay a livable wage to continue to train an educate these kids.

Don't sleep on the trades or community college. Have you seen the demand or the rates for people with a specific skill lately?