A skilled trade? Why not?
Why do most young people (and professionals) continue to shy away from the trades?
Rui Lapa
5/27/20242 min read
A skilled trade, why not? Why do most young people (and professionals) continue to shy away from the trades?
Demand exists:
- Japan’s construction skills shortage threatens to overshadow Expo 2025 (Barnard)
- The global talent shortage reaches a 17-year-high in 2023 (2023 Global Talent Shortage)
- Skilled Labour Shortage: A Looming Concern for the US, 2024 (Jae)
Why is supply falling behind?This is a complex subject; however, I will list two major categories.
Shift in education emphasis: since maybe the late 1960s, the perception has been that a 4 year college degree is the ultimate goal for every student (global). This has even worsened recently, with many roles asking for 'advanced' MSc, MBA, or PHD as a preference!
Stigma: still persisting today, many believe that these skilled labour roles imply having less intellectual capacity.
Works cited
2023 Global Talent Shortage. 2024, go.manpowergroup.com/hubfs/MPG_TS_2023_Infographic_FINAL.pdf.
Barnard, Lucy. “Japan’s Construction Skills Shortage Threatens to Overshadow Expo 2025.” Construction Briefing, 31 May 2024, www.constructionbriefing.com/8037261.article.
Jae, Bartholomew. “The Top Skilled Trades Industry Trends for 2024.” Retrofit, 20 Feb. 2024, retrofitmagazine.com/the-top-skilled-trades-industry-trends-for-2024.
My favourite proponent of skilled trades
Mike Rowe
A skilled trade, why not? Why do most young people (and professionals) continue to shy away from the trades?
Demand exists:
- Japan’s construction skills shortage threatens to overshadow Expo 2025 (Barnard)
- The global talent shortage reaches a 17-year-high in 2023 (2023 Global Talent Shortage)
- Skilled Labour Shortage: A Looming Concern for the US, 2024 (Jae)
Why is supply falling behind?This is a complex subject; however, I will list two major categories.
Shift in education emphasis: since maybe the late 1960s, the perception has been that a 4 year college degree is the ultimate goal for every student (global). This has even worsened recently, with many roles asking for 'advanced' MSc, MBA, or PHD as a preference!
Stigma: still persisting today, many believe that these skilled labour roles imply having less intellectual capacity.
Works cited
2023 Global Talent Shortage. 2024, go.manpowergroup.com/hubfs/MPG_TS_2023_Infographic_FINAL.pdf.
Barnard, Lucy. “Japan’s Construction Skills Shortage Threatens to Overshadow Expo 2025.” Construction Briefing, 31 May 2024, www.constructionbriefing.com/8037261.article.
Jae, Bartholomew. “The Top Skilled Trades Industry Trends for 2024.” Retrofit, 20 Feb. 2024, retrofitmagazine.com/the-top-skilled-trades-industry-trends-for-2024.
My favourite proponent of skilled trades
Mike Rowe
