The school year is beginning again in many places across the country and it should come as no surprise that a number of students and their parents are focused on high school schedules that are full of Advanced Placement classes that will look great on a college application. And while you may not be surprised about the increased number of students thinking about a four year degree, you likely should be concerned about the decreased number of students who are looking at pursuing a career in the trades. In fact, this country needs more of the brightest and most talented and driven students to change their vision from a four year college degree which comes with lots of debt to a two year trade school certification that comes with immediate jobs and high salaries.
In a time when the nation continues to be focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers, it is essential to remember that there is also a very high demand for skilled craftsmen and women who can implement the skills needed for the country’s infrastructure. From commercial boring to residential welding and electrical wiring, there are many fields that are in desperate need of more workers.
Underground Directional Boring and Other Skills Continue to be in High Demand
As consumers continue to demand more and more petroleum products, the commercial boring industry continues to look for workers. With careers that often involve high pay and one entire week off a month, the industry is doing everything it can to draw in new employees. For many trade industries, however, the real catch is in finding high school students and informing them of future high paying careers that are available. Encouraging these young students to take the trade skill classes that are sometimes offered in partnership with high schools can help many young people find a career that allows them to immediately earn top wages without incurring four years of college debt.
Some businesses, in fact, will even pay for students to enroll in specific trade related training courses, as well as pay for the needed tools. Directional boring contractors are just one example of the many fields where workers can find jobs immediately in a field that allows them to work predictable hours with periodic extended vacations.
The latest estimates indicate that there are approximately 2.5 million miles of pipelines used to transport fuel products from source to market in the U.S. Many of these pipelines required skilled commercial boring technicians. There is no sign that these jobs will be going away any time soon as the nation continues to depend on directional drilling because it produces twice the amount of oil or gas being extracted when compared to traditional methods.
If you are a high school student or the parent of a high school student, it is important to remember that there are a number of avenues beyond a four year college degree. For many of the wisest graduates, a technical trades career is only one or two years away.