Americans across the political spectrum overwhelmingly support skilled trades education in high school, but school systems face major barriers in providing the courses that give students a path toward essential, in-demand careers, according to new research from Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, which includes a public opinion poll and study of skilled trades program in high schools nationwide.
The study and poll comprise the first comprehensive look at American high school skilled trades education — courses that emphasize building and repair, such as construction, electrical, automotive, heating, air conditioning, and plumbing.
Conducted prior to the pandemic, the studies arrive as the nation faces massive layoffs, a looming and deep recession, and a preexisting shortage of tradespeople, who make up a workforce that is on the brink of retirement. Expanding the pipeline of trades professionals, the studies note, is urgent because even without job growth, trades positions are among the hardest to fill.
The first study, a poll of nearly 6,000 voters, parents of high school students, and students themselves, was conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago. It found:
- 79% of parents believe their child would be more prepared for a career if they had the chance to study a trade in high school,
- 72% of students say high schools could do a better job of giving them chances to learn real-world skills,
- At least seven in 10 voters, parents, and students want employers to do more to support skilled trades education,
- Eight in 10 voters support more funding for high school skilled trade education, and
- 80% of voters described the trades as important.
The second study, conducted by JFF, an independent workforce development nonprofit organization, analyzed federal and state data on skilled trade programs, students, student outcomes, and teachers, and interviewed state career and technical education leaders in each of the 50 states and Washington, DC. Interviewees nearly universally agreed that a lingering stigma against the trades discourages student participation, contrasting the results of the opinion poll. The seemingly paradoxical result demonstrates that educators haven’t yet seen positive public opinions for the trades translate into more resources and respect for programs, said Danny Corwin, executive director of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools.
“Today’s skilled trades education is about offering all students more paths to a secure, fulfilling future doing essential work, and it’s clear that Americans want and need this training,” Corwin said. “Providing pathways for young people to solid jobs is going to be even more important as communities across the country suffer the economic fallout from COVID-19 and begin to rebuild our economy and infrastructure.”
In addition to the perceived stigma, the largest challenge facing skilled trades education, study authors note, is an absence of data so significant that they deem it a “data desert with a few oases.” Thirty-seven states representing 81% of all high school students responded to requests for data, but only five states were able to provide data in every category requested.
“We’re making policy in the dark,” said John White, a former Louisiana state superintendent who was interviewed for the study.
Despite the data challenges, the report captures several key baseline findings:
- Of the more than 11 million public high school students in the 32 states that provided skilled trades enrollment data for the 2016-2017 school year, 872,452 students, or 8%, took a skilled trades course, out of the 15 million students currently enrolled in high school nationwide.
- In those same states, students concentrating in trades—taking two or more courses in sequence, indicating strong interest—would fill less than 10% of the 975,000 projected job openings from 2018 to 2028, many of which are driven by retirements.
- Students who complete a concentration have higher graduation rates than the 85% national average for high school students overall.
- Against the backdrop of a nationwide teacher shortage across many subjects, trades teachers represent an aging workforce, with a higher median age than teachers overall.
To learn more about the NORC and JFF reports’ findings, visit Harbor Freight Tools for Schools website.
