Finding a Career in the Skilled Trades: A Step-by-Step Guide
December 23, 2022
December 23, 2022
Thinking about a career in the skilled trades? One of the most common feelings when people contemplate a career in the trades, regardless of their life story, is confusion. How can you break into a career in the skilled trades? Are there good options for paid skilled trades training that can help you avoid debt? Where are you supposed to find this information?
If you’re trying to learn more about a career in the skilled trades, you’re not alone. There are many jobs available in this industry, making it an appealing choice. As of October 2022, the construction industry was trying to fill more than 370,000 job openings, with a further 1,644,000 vacancies in the trade, transportation, and utility industries. Regardless of your background, there are opportunities for anyone willing to put in the work and learn from industry experts.
The skilled trades is a fast-growing sector, especially due to macro causes triggered by factors like the growth of near-shoring manufacturing and ongoing infrastructure investment funded by the recent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This explosion in demand coupled with a large percentage of the current labor force nearing retirement will leave a shortfall of more than 3 million skilled trades jobs by 2028.
The demand for skilled tradespeople has also outpaced the rest of the American job market, with specific industries experiencing explosive growth due to their specialization. This demand is typically accompanied by generous benefits packages, flexible hours, and substantial salaries.
So, how can you break into a career in the skilled trades? Let us show you the first steps you should be taking to find a job in some of the most in-demand skilled trades.
Before you make any decision about your career path or your interests, it’s essential to educate yourself about which trades are in the highest demand in 2023 and beyond. What is the highest-paying skilled trade you should explore?
Here are some of the industries that have been offering the highest salaries in previous years:
These jobs are in demand due to a retiring workforce and how our shopping, work, and living habits have changed over the last few years. With the supply chain busier and more snarled than ever, it makes sense that individuals able to supervise, coordinate, and inspect warehouses, trucking, and other logistical facilities would be in extremely high demand.
The skilled trades represent a great career option for anyone who is looking to:
So, how can you get started? Here are the steps we recommend when considering the skilled trade career path.
Before you jump into the workforce, you’ll need to pick up the necessary skills to practice your trade. Typically, this involves enrolling in a vocation or trade school (which typically runs for 1-2 years), or finding an apprenticeship. You can also apply for an entry-level position in the industry of your choice and learn on the job.
Ultimately, apprenticeships are the best approach to skilled trades training, but they are also the most competitive. They are so popular because, essentially, you are being paid to learn. There’s no student loan debt, and you learn real-world practical skills.
While a trade or technical school program can be a great way to learn the fundamentals, students who graduate from these programs often start at the same apprenticeship level as someone without a formal college or university degree. Plus, they’re saddled with an average of $10,000 in trade school student debt.
The choice between college and skilled trades can be tough. Learn more about the most important details you should know when making this decision here (LINK to blog post #2).
Once you’ve decided which approach you’d like to take for your education, you’ll have to narrow down which trade you’d like to enter.
There are lots of great options available, including:
In particular, the electrical industry is popular for apprenticeships because many sub-trades and career options can grow from this training. It’s also predicted to be one of the fastest-growing trades over the next decade due to macro tailwinds such as growing electrification and ongoing grid repairs and maintenance.
When choosing a skilled trade, you should consider not only the benefits the career path offers but also your talents and interests. Do you enjoy solving complex mental puzzles or working with your hands? Would you rather work outside or indoors? These are all factors you should consider.
The next step in the process is jumping into hands-on training. An apprenticeship is the best way to learn these skills since it typically offers lots of one-on-one time with someone who has been doing this trade for years.
To find an apprenticeship, look for companies that specifically mention the word apprenticeship on their website or job postings. Then, reach out to inquire about their training program.
Since the apprenticeship process is not standardized, your experience will vary widely depending on where you apprentice.
If you’re looking for a long-term career in the skilled trades, you may want to consider a program to obtain a journeyman license or equivalent certification in your state.
In many trades (but not all), it’s common to refer to the hierarchy of experience using the terms apprentice, journeyman, and master. Graduating from an apprentice to a journeyman is a significant milestone in any trade that requires expertise and hands-on knowledge.
For example, an apprentice electrician must have four years or 8,000 hours of experience under a journeyman or master electrician before they are eligible to take their journeyman’s license test. Obtaining a journeyman’s license is usually accompanied by a noticeable bump in pay.
Each state and industry may have slightly different requirements for journeyman certification, but the most common standard is four years or 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience. Some states may have additional educational requirements before you sit for your journeyman exam.
After you’ve spent some time as a journeyman, you may choose to obtain your master's license, which is the highest certification in the skilled trades. Similar to journeyman, each state has different requirements. If you want to own your own business, it may be necessary to secure this certification.
Stepping into a skilled trades program is a great career option, regardless of whether you choose formal education or the apprenticeship route. Once you’ve trained and have secured the requisite experience, you can chart your own career path, achieve financial stability, and have a positive impact on your community and those around you.
Want to learn more about the process of finding a career in the skilled trades? TradeFoundry is a new platform designed to connect young people with career options, education, and information about the skilled trades.
Apply today to learn more about your skilled trades career options and make the connections that can help you get there.
