What is your opinion regarding the trades? Do you think there has been an attitude change? What has caused this in your opinion? Do you think there’s a bias towards trades? Why?
Addison Allen: “My opinion regarding the trades is that it is a very laborious, blue collar job. I overall have a high level of respect towards those in the trades because of how they do the jobs no one wants, such as working out in the heat all day during the summer. I do think there has been an attitude change towards it though in the past few years/decades. I think that it has become more open towards all people rather than just men. In my opinion, this is caused by the want of more equality from both women and different minorities. Yes, I do think the trades are typically biased towards being a job for those who chose not to attend extra schooling.”
Jesse Blenker: “My opinion regarding trades is that they are a key factor in our society and in the world; they quite literally build every single home in the world, along with maintaining and fixing them. I think there has been an attitude change, especially with more and more innovative and fascinating technology that younger people see, and they want to go more into doing things on computers and going to 4 year universities to get a good job. Trades are good jobs, while some can be very laborious, some are relatively easy on your body and only require you to know what you are doing on the job. I think there isn’t a bias towards trades because many high schools, teachers, and even parents are pushing their kids towards universities and going on to school for a better job, where they could be going into trades and making lots of money with no student debt.”
Ivy Boelk: “I believe that the trades are super, super important. Like Mike Rowe said in his interview, everything leads back to the trades. They are the foundation of almost every other career. I think there has been an attitude change in this generation towards the trades, most likely because young people that are just getting out of high school don’t want to go back to school for another four years. It is becoming more normal and even respected to not go to a four-year school. I don’t think that this is right or wrong, I think it’s just different. I think that there is somewhat of a bias toward the trades because of stereotypes. Some people may think that if you work in the trades you aren’t as smart or driven; however, the trades are very important and I believe we should appreciate them more as a whole.”
Liam Conner: “Personally, I’m very interested in the trades my brother went into and I plan to as well. I’ve always loved working with my hands and I feel like they are and are seen as good jobs. I think the attitude has shifted more towards that we need them and they are respectable, but I think it’s still seen as a second class job in others’ opinions. I think what most likely caused this was the rising prices for student loans and the difficulty of the job market. Many younger people look at college and see how expensive it is and look at how difficult it can be to get jobs and see the trades as a better alternative. For example, my brother works in the trades and he never went to college. He has a great job after starting out in an apprenticeship and he loves it; so even though there is a little bias it’s definitely becoming less and less.”
Sascha Goll0n: “I think the trades are in high demand for workers because people have gotten lazy. Many people look at these kinds of jobs and all they see is a lot of hard work and effort that needs to be put in. This is a dramatic shift in attitude because in the past, men have wanted to work hard to support a family. However, in the modern day, roles in society are changing and not many people have the urge to do hard labor. I think this was caused by the change in generations because nowadays we are all taught from an early age to pick a career path that we enjoy. More and more kids are being raised in more gentle-parenting households in which girls and boys are held to the same standards, whereas in the past men have been taught to do the difficult jobs and provide. I think this is an unfair bias because women and men should both have to fill the role of providing for their family equally. This also means that, collectively, our society needs to accept the idea of women in hard labor jobs in order to fill the many available positions in the workforce today.”
Ayriani Hoerter: “In my opinion, I do think that there has been a change in attitude toward the trades. I feel as though there are more students who are interested in the trades, at least in our school. I feel as though with the new building it has opened so many more opportunities for students to not only learn about all of the different trades, but to also experience first-hand what they are like, and by us being able to be more hands-on with our classes students are more focused and interested in what they are learning.”
Isaiah Hunley: “I believe that trades are very needed but that doesn’t rule out four-year colleges to become a doctor, lawyer, etc. I also think that going into a trade is niche. You’re either going to love it or hate it. I have always looked up to my grandpa who was in a trade so whenever I was younger and he would suggest a trade to me I would automatically gravitate towards it. Now that I have gotten older and I am starting to think a bit more for myself my opinion has changed. I no longer want to do a trade rather something in the business industry hopefully eventually owning my own business. My business would likely start as a side hustle while I am in college for something in health/fitness. Lastly, I think there is some bias towards trades because many people that go into trades grew up around something similar. Whether that be their relatives working on cars, welding, etc. Though I do think that the kid would eventually change their mind if they don’t like the trades like I did unless they are really close to their family.”
