Unfortunately, the entire country is seeing a decrease in the number of students entering the skilled trades. Junior Achievement of Western PA took a human-centered approach to understand why students are not engaging in the skilled trades after high school. To get to the heart of the issue, the team interviewed students from western PA directly.

When it comes to skilled trades, students who do not have direct exposure to skilled trades experiences and education have very little understanding of the core concepts. They are unaware of key terminology, necessary technical and workplace readiness skills, general career requirements, apprenticeship and career opportunities, financial aspects, and more.

Students’ concepts of the skilled trades are typically dominated by roles that they have been exposed to in their daily lives and those that are more ‘visible’ within a trade, such as construction workers and electricians.

The human-centered research also revealed that students are directed towards the college pathway by people who are part of their circles of influence, such as their parents/caretakers, siblings, teachers, and popular culture.

While some students do understand the financial advantages of skilled trades careers, this does not sway their interest away from wanting to attend college and have the traditional “college experience.”

Students understand the need for these jobs in their communities, but they do not currently feel socially responsible for filling these vacant skilled trades careers.