The trades, they are a changin’ . . .

Okay, so it’s not the apocalypse. There are no zombies or mutant genes, just a global shortage of qualified tradespeople. Yes, it’s coming, and for those with foresight now is the perfect time to start planning out your professional future while still ahead of the shift. There are already highlighted skill shortages in construction, engineering and mining, and this trend will only continue as the Baby Boomers hang up their tools, trading in toolboxes for ice boxes.

“The only thing constant in life is change”

It’s a great go-to adage for people faced with transition. Change is not a bad thing nor is it a good thing. Change just ‘is.’ And with change comes opportunity. The once predominant creases between white collar and blue collar are smoothing out, ushering in new perspectives on a career in the trades, which at one time was considered more of a vocation than a career. Now is the perfect time to de-stigmatize, unless one holds no value in highly skilled, specialized and multi-talented dynamic thinkers.

What’s in the trades?

• High employment rates right out of school
  • Learning the specialized skills and technology required for a life in the trades
• Graduate not only with a degree in your trade, but also with a minor degree in practicality and job security
• Apprenticeship programs are more widely available offering many incentives to get you out of the class and into your field
  • Positioning power due to the lack of qualified applicants available to meet the growing demands needs of industry