To learn more about the many opportunities and benefits a trade career can offer your child, we invite you to explore the trades career paths below.
Is Your Child Career Ready?
There are few times more important in the life of a parent than when their child is faced with the milestone of determining a career path.
Parents naturally want their children to have a future that is both satisfying and stable, but how can we be certain about something as unpredictable as the future?
- Guiding a decision like this is difficult. As such, we suggest that you and your child both thoroughly research all options.
- It is important for parents to help children consider the long-term implications of different career paths, as this is not always a strength that young people possess.
- While it is never too late to get involved, most high schools now require you to choose “a path” for your child. That means talking to them in middle school and based on their grades and skills, start molding them in the right direction.
Based on the thriving job and housing market Austin is experiencing, there can be little doubt that one of the most stable, rewarding, and challenging career paths is a career in the construction trades.
The options and benefits of this decision grow more significant each year:
- Low (if any) debt
- Less time spent in education and training
- Quicker path to earning potential
- Quick path to employment – all trade jobs are hiring
- Flexible learning that can mold to their schedule
- They will leave their education with connections already forged in the industry
- Specialized training through small class sizes
- Many employers will pay for their education while they are working
- The ability to ultimately work for themselves and build a lasting legacy
Construction is a solid, growing industry
Consider some of the differences with a construction trade career when compared to a typical four-year degree:
- The average cost of a 2-year trade school is $33,000 compared the average cost of $108, 584 for 4-year college degree.
- The average debt for a trades career is less than $10,000 compared to nearly $37,850 for a 4-year degree.
- Average national wages:
- Carpenter: $25-$52/hr
- Electrician: $29-$49/hr
- Plumber: $30-$52/hr
- Construction is one of the industries with the highest projections for new employment opportunities.
- Most earn a stable income in their first year out of high school.
- Construction is projected to add 864,700 new jobs by 2026.
- Employment is estimated to grow 12% from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations, increasing from 6.71 million jobs to 7.58 million jobs.
- Learn practical skills that not only provide an income but will also be helpful throughout their life. (credit)