A new study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reveals that more young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 are interested in the construction trades but more work needs to be done to educate the public that there are increasing opportunities for rewarding, lucrative careers in the skilled trades.
The new research is similar to a study conducted in 2016. The NAHB survey found that the share of young adults interested in a career in the construction trades doubled from 3% a decade ago to 6% today. The two most important benefits young adults see in a career in the trades are good pay (73%) and the ability to obtain useful skills (65%).
“While this new research shows that more young adults have a positive attitude toward a career in the construction trades, many are still unaware that careers in the building trades offer workers well paid jobs and opportunities for growth in one of the most in-demand industries in the nation,” says NAHB Chairman Bill Owens, a home builder and remodeler from Worthington, Ohio. “High schools need to stress that the skilled trades are a viable alternative to four-year colleges that can pay above median wages and serve as a launching pad for small business development.”