More students believe trade schools offer at least as much value as college and one PNW professor worries that students may be missing important opportunities.
“The trades are getting drilled and hammered into young adults by certain spheres of podcasts and social media,” said Afshin Zahraee, a professor in Construction Engineering & Management Technology. “For some people, going straight into the trades does work out based on what they want to do.”
A recent study by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation found that high school students and students who have not enrolled in college perceive growing value in non-degree programs, including licenses, certificates, and trade school.
While 81% of high school students told researchers the primary reason to go to college was to get a better job, 69% said a trade or vocational school could do the same.
Zahraee believes many students – even those thinking of a career in the trades – can benefit from a college education.
“We’ve had older students that were already working in the field who ultimately chose to pursue education,” he said. “They often join because they worked for years and couldn’t advance in their careers due to educational requirements. …
“Those students tend to do very well,” said Zahraee. “They usually see the critical importance of getting that degree, so they don’t take their education for granted.”
Construction industry demand is so high for PNW students that many have jobs lined up before they graduate.
“A lot of what we’re training and teaching can lead to better job performances as well as open many doors,” Zahraee said. “Over the last three years, students who completed our program have had 100% job placement.
“I had a few employers reach out to me in the last two weeks who were looking for students to work for them,” he said. “A lot of our seniors are already set with jobs after graduation. I had to tell the employers that I could set them up with some juniors or sophomores for an internship that could potentially go full-time after graduation. The demand is very high and there’s a great reputation of our students out there.”
Zahraee said a college education can make the difference between landing a job and advancing in the industry.
“We are in a position where we have a vast array of technology that allows us to better create and monitor things. I try to instill adaptation into all my lessons,” he said. “This is the technology that we’re starting to use in classes. Getting the knowledge of how to use and apply it is a game-changer in the field.
“Things like BIM, and building information modeling, are something that is on the rise,” Zahraee said. “This shows you where everything is supposed to go. We’ve incorporated software like that in class.”
Adapting to advancements in technology has better-equipped students who enter the workforce.
“Our students are much better equipped and prepared right out of the gate,” he said. “We have also made use of technologies, such as drones and AI-driven project management tools, so our students are ahead of the curve.
“Not only are you learning the skills, but you are also positioned to adapt to new advancements in technology,” Zahraee said.
Bottom line: Zahraee believes bBlue-collar workers are in great demand, but the right college degree can make an enormous difference for life-long success.
“We’re lucky today because there’s been a big bi-partisan push to fix the infrastructure here. It’s opened a vast number of jobs and opportunities for years to come,” he said. “We are incredibly fortunate in our field to have so many opportunities.”
