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Future Generations — Attracting And Keeping Future Trade Workers by Jack Rubinger, freelance writer In a world struggling with climate change, economic change and a global pandemic, what’s going to happen in the future is difficult to predict and hard to imagine. This is a challenging time for adults and our young people. With Baby Boomers retiring from many trades, what is the future going to hold for the next generation of trade workers? What can we do now to ensure that there will be a future generation of trade workers? How will technology impact the next generation seeking a career? In the short-term, because of economic slowdowns in commercial real estate development due to the global pandemic, less work might be available for some trade workers, cautioned Kate Lister, Global Workplace Analytics. Some second and third generation welders and fitters have discouraged their children from the heavy
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construction trades due to the travel demands, work hours and the impact on family life, even though the money is still very good (anywhere from about $25,000 to $60,000 or more depending on the state). “That electrical person, plumber, HVAC person will be needed for a LONG TIME COMING in society. Trade jobs do important work that is much needed. These jobs take skill and provide incredible value. More importantly, many trade workers will tell you they get great satisfaction from being able to see the direct results of their efforts—which their officeworking friends may wait years to see,” said Safety Manager Terry Penney. Training is a good place to start to predict the future.
Training It’s not fair to expect someone going into a new career to know
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everything about that job. The Oregon Tradeswoman organization, for example, conducts a hands-on career fair introducing debt-free career education for high-paying, highdemand careers in the skilled trades. Many top colleges offer construction trades programs, including Alfred State, SUNY Canton, Morrisville State College (NY), and Arizona Western College. Community colleges and high schools offer training, too. Not everyone is meant to or can afford to go the traditional university route. In fact, more and more young people are questioning this path, because it doesn’t ensure a job after four years, universities are expensive, and while you wind up with a degree, you may still have no real work experience. “Our colleges and tech institutes must be current and even future proofing for new systems and code
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