For decades, vocational training has been waning. Fortunately, the Trump administration is dedicated to reversing this troubling trend. In 2017, President Donald Trump launched his first effort to restore vocational pursuits with an executive order that would, “Expand apprenticeships and vocational training to help all Americans find a rewarding career, earn a great living and support themselves and their families.” Furthermore, in 2018, Trump identified the pressing need for an American Renaissance in vocational training, stating, “You learn mechanical, you learn bricklaying and carpentry. We don’t have those things anymore.”
Skeptics claim that Trump’s pro-manual-labor measures are unnecessary. These critics argue that the progress made in automation and technology has lessened the value of the trades. They correctly point out that interest in manual labor has stalled and therefore claim that the pursuit of labor by one’s own body is consequently obsolete and irrelevant.
However, is it possible that the tech culture explosion has suppressed genuine interest and diverted talent from the traditional trades? Vacancies for vocational jobs have skyrocketed because there are so few qualified applicants. Since 2010, vacancies for carpenters, electricians, welders, and several other similar professions have been the highest among all industries. Furthermore, the average age for vocational employees has increased dramatically. Skilled trade workers older than 45 comprise more than 53 percent of the vocational labor force. On the other hand, the national average for employees older than 45 in all other industries is 44 percent. If this alarming trend is not addressed in the near future, Americans will have a rather difficult time finding qualified professionals for home repairs and other necessary services.
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