Posted on 12/02/2025 5:36:10 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Sydney Kasin spends her days learning to cut precise angles with a miter saw, but she's also cutting a different path than many of her peers.
The Waunakee High School senior splits her time between the classroom and construction job sites as a carpentry apprentice, part of a growing trend of students choosing trades over traditional four-year college degrees.
"I really wanted to use my hands and see what I'm building instead of sitting in an office every day," Kasin said.
Her decision reflects a broader shift in American attitudes toward higher education. About 1 in 4 Americans now say a four-year college degree is worth the cost if students must take out loans to pay for it. This skepticism has led more students to explore alternative career pathways, particularly in the trades.
"I struggled figuring out what I was going to do with my life... I didn't know what I wanted to go to college for," Kasin said.
Waunakee's apprenticeship program is experiencing unprecedented growth. This year, the school placed its highest number of students ever with local employers, according to Michelle McGlynn, who oversees the district's Career and Technical Education programs.
"The demand is definitely growing. There's an interest from families and students who see value in a work environment like this," McGlynn said.
The school currently has 13 students enrolled in construction pathways, learning carpentry, electrical and plumbing skills. McGlynn encourages students to make their own career decisions rather than following parental expectations.
"I'm the person who will sit across from them and say, stop thinking about what your parents might want — what do you want to do with your life?" McGlynn said.
For Kasin, the hands-on training provides practical skills that extend beyond her future career.
"I've definitely learned a lot of skills that will be useful throughout my life," she said.
The student interest comes at a critical time for the construction industry. Associated Builders and Contractors estimates the sector needs to attract more than 400,000 new workers to meet demand.
"The industry is aging, so in order to replace those who've earned their retirement and deserve it we're going to have to replace them with new workers," said Kelly Tourdot, president of ABC Wisconsin.
The financial incentives are compelling. The average starting apprentice wage in Dane County is approximately $18.50 per hour. After completing a three-to-five-year program, wages jump to more than $43 per hour.
"Really the sky's the limit coming into the construction industry. Great wages, no debt coming out of the apprenticeship program," Tourdot said.
Local employers recognize the stakes involved in attracting new talent. Al Boettcher from Vogel Construction explained how worker shortages affect business operations.
"When you're short of craft workers and skilled trades, it's hard to get jobs completed on time. It's just the nature of it," Boettcher said.
For Kasin, the apprenticeship program provides clarity about her future direction.
"I think right now it's setting me up for knowing what I want to do and where I want to go," she said.
Students interested in pursuing trade careers can take several steps to get started. First, they should identify a specific trade such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical work or HVAC. Most apprenticeships require a high school diploma or equivalent.
Prospective apprentices can apply through contractors, unions or training committees. Wisconsin also offers a certified pre-apprenticeship program through the state Department of Workforce Development.
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Of course the story centers on a woman.
With the introduction of AI in the business world, vocational training is the way for most young people to go...
With the introduction of AI in the business world, vocational training is the way for most young people to go...
I think the primary reason apprenticeships are growing is not just because the standard 4 year college degree sucks due to leftism, but the standard trade school tries to inject subjects into the curriculum that have nothing to do with the trade being learned.
I went to a trade school for mechanics that taught only the subjects necessary for the trade. Back then it was called a Vocational Technical School. The jerks then added all sorts of garbage subjects to the curriculum and retitled the school a Technical College. And of course lefty subjects were added to the mix.
Going to work as an apprentice means you get to learn from masters of the trade and get a wage at the same time without the political indoctrination or huge tuition debt. It’s a win win.
One of the most under-utilized trade institutions is the US military. A high school friend of mine went into the Air Force while I went to college and on for a Ph.D. and university teaching. He stayed in for 7 years and was a jet engine mechanic. He always made twice as much as I did after leaving the military and going with United.
I am glad that kids and, importantly, their parents, are finally waking up to the colossal scam that most (yes, most) colleges are these days. College is not a ticket to a six figure income for probably half to two thirds of the kids who go. And trade schools are increasingly teaching classes that are more sophisticated. The old delineation that college was about studying books and trade school is about working with your hands is increasingly blurred.
The college bubble needs to burst. There needs to be a massive shake out and a number of C-rate colleges need to close or be dramatically cut back. And the administrative staff of most colleges needs to be cut in half or more. There needs to be depression in higher education to get it back on track.
“One of the most under-utilized trade institutions is the US military.”
That’s the route I took and it has served me very well! Joined during the Carter Admin when there were NO JOBS, no gasoline, inflation through the roof, etc.
It was only a few years after Vietnam and while people thought I was crazy to join then, I really had no other alternatives. My folks didn’t have money for either college or a Tech School, so I did it myself.
After the Army, I ended up managing two multi-million dollar operations for others - even though I hadn’t finished my Business Degree, which I worked on all the while I was in the Army. Went to college on the ‘Mastercard Program,’ LOL! No debt to worry about either; I paid it off as I went.
I’m retired now and sometimes I think about finishing my degree but...Meh. I’ve gotten everything out of my work life that I wanted, post-Army.
“There needs to be depression in higher education to get it back on track.”
Agreed. But it’s pretty hard to accomplish. Higher Ed is like any other ‘Government Program.’ Once established it is a monster that grows and consumes all while producing little to nothing. :(
One of the community colleges in Nashville offers a program in aseptic manufacturing. Graduates work in pharmaceuticals, medical device, food industries.
I thought that was unique and a great way to have a career that couldn’t be farmed out easily to fence jumping “newcomers”.
you don’t dare suggest that the entrenched, entitle, $250k+/annum professor class might need to take a pay cut, do you? /s
And men in particular are waking up to this fact. At the two small state universities near us here in the Midwest, their enrollments this year are 63% and 61% female. On top of that, both have seen overall enrollments cut in half in the last 15 years.
Meanwhile, a nearby 2-year state technical college just set another enrollment record, and its students are 85% male. Its most popular degrees are HVAC, diesel tech, welding, and electrical technology.
Do they then join the international workers party when they matriculate?
Exactly.
Exactly.
The Morrill Land Grant University act (and subsequent acts supporting it!) was supposed to do what the modern trade schools now do. Many state universities owe their existence to these acts. The law specified the mission of these institutions: to focus on the teaching of practical agriculture, science, military science, and engineering—although “without excluding other scientific and classical studies”. Almost all have moved far away from that! They have retained their intended role to some extent but much of that has been eroded away. They have picked up curricula that are outside the original intent of the law. Some of the additional curricula like business, medicine, law (Questionable!) complement the original curricula. They were never intended to provide resting places for sources of higher education frivolity as they are now. Another problem which dilutes and distracts the original mission is that they are now providers of sports entertainment. State legislatures, appointed governing bodies have all allowed this to happen with no pushback from the taxpayer. In fact the taxpayer is usually a huge supporter of the new sports entertainment mission!
A forced return to the original mission should be looked at
The Morrill Land Grant University act (and subsequent acts supporting it!) was supposed to do what the modern trade schools now do. Many state universities owe their existence to these acts. The law specified the mission of these institutions: to focus on the teaching of practical agriculture, science, military science, and engineering—although “without excluding other scientific and classical studies”. Almost all have moved far away from that! They have retained their intended role to some extent but much of that has been eroded away. They have picked up curricula that are outside the original intent of the law. Some of the additional curricula like business, medicine, law (Questionable!) complement the original curricula. They were never intended to provide resting places for sources of higher education frivolity as they are now. Another problem which dilutes and distracts the original mission is that they are now providers of sports entertainment. State legislatures, appointed governing bodies have all allowed this to happen with no pushback from the taxpayer. In fact the taxpayer is usually a huge supporter of the new sports entertainment mission!
A forced return to the original mission should be looked at
The Morrill Land Grant University act (and subsequent acts supporting it!) was supposed to do what the modern trade schools now do. Many state universities owe their existence to these acts. The law specified the mission of these institutions: to focus on the teaching of practical agriculture, science, military science, and engineering—although “without excluding other scientific and classical studies”. Almost all have moved far away from that!
Let me emphasize this: State legislatures and appointed governing bodies who are supposed to oversee adherence to the mission have allowed this to happen!
That’s ok, at least she’s learning how to do stuff for herself and make a useful living. On the whole I am heartened by articles like this.
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