A survey of high schoolers enrolled in skilled trades programs found students are eager to enter the field but face challenges accessing training, according to Dewalt’s “Gen Z in the Skilled Trades” study.
The survey of Gen Z’s commitment to skilled trades found 52% of students reported being placed on a waitlist for training programs.
Other barriers to trade careers included the cost of trade school, availability of networking opportunities, finding time for class and work, and access to equipment and tools for training.
Even with barriers to entry, the Gen Z surveyed are optimistic about trade careers. Of those surveyed, 84% believed they would be hired immediately following graduation and 67% had conversations with potential employers who expressed an interest in hiring them.
As part of the company’s National Apprenticeship Week celebration, Dewalt is hosting an educational event about career opportunities in the trades Nov. 20–21 at its headquarters in Towson, Md.
Additionally, applications are open for the Dewalt Trades Scholarship, which assists individuals attending a two-year college or vocational-technical school pursuing a trade degree.
