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Reimagining Education and Career Paths
It's no secret that in today's fast-paced world, the idea of pursuing a master's degree has taken a backseat to other enticing opportunities. With student debt on the rise, many are rethinking their career aspirations. The glitz and glam of being a social media influencer have captured the imagination of the younger crowd, promising quick riches and an enviable lifestyle. But let's take a step back and consider the bigger picture.
The Influence of Influencers
While the influencer lifestyle may seem appealing, it's essential to recognize its role in fueling consumerism. Constantly promoting products and a materialistic way of life, influencers contribute to the culture of excess that pervades society today.
Valuing Skilled Trades
This article argues that there's immense value in mastering a skilled trade. By honing practical skills and expertise in a specific field, individuals can secure stable careers and contribute meaningfully to society. So, let's shift our focus to the long-term benefits of investing in vocational education and specialized training.
Social media influencer or tradesmen work opportunities: which is a safer bet?
The age group of 16-23 is the target influencer group which is also the same age group that are perpetually on social media. It would seem to be a simple thing to start doing if you are constantly on your phone anyway but what needs to be considered is the saturation of all the users looking to become an influencer. according to the following graphic: 10 million users of the 103 million users on Instagram can be considered "influencers" to various degrees by state.
However; according a survey by NeoReach in 2023 - reported that 96% of creators are what are known as " Nano-influencers" never going over 10k followers and earning between $0 to $1400 a month. Doofinder reports that only 1.4% earn $1 million or more. and the highest chance you could have being successful in this endeavor is to living in California. The demand for unique and provocative content for click and views makes it difficult to stand out.
Tradesmen:
Considering the fact that the percentage of jobs in the United States requiring some form of trade has almost doubled from 10.4% in 1992 to 20.3% in 2019. The need for skilled workers is rising rapidly, given that the average age of tradespeople is 55. As per The Hudson Institute, the supply of skilled tradespeople in the U.S. will struggle to meet the demand until 2050. The current ratio of retiring workers to new trainees stands at 5:2, indicating that for every five construction workers retiring, only two are entering the field. Consequently, there is a shortage of experienced professionals to mentor the next generation of tradespeople.
The period from 2022 to 2023 is expected to see material-moving roles having the most significant average annual number of job openings, with 1.2 million projected. Additional skilled trade positions in high demand include motor vehicle operation (with an average of 589,200 job openings annually from 2022 to 2032), construction trade roles (488,100), and other installation, maintenance, and repair jobs (318,700).
Wat do I mean by tradespeople?
As of May 2022, there were 34.7 million individuals employed in various trade occupations in the United States. Skilled trade jobs in the US are classified by the Department of Labor into five main categories: farming, fishing, and forestry; construction and extraction; installation, maintenance, and repair; production; and transportation and material moving.
When you review these charts, it becomes clear which path is more lucrative for the new generation when comparing social media influencers or tradesmen. I chose to look at cabinetmakers and bench carpenters specifically because that is my particular trade, and there are so many niche skill categories to filter through in the Bureau of Labor Statistics that I couldn't include them all. Nevertheless, these figures are average compared to all the other trades.
States with the highest employment level in Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters:
After taking all this information into account, you might have come to the same conclusion as me: dedicating time to learning a skill is truly rewarding and valuable. It's essential to nurture abilities that will always be in demand. In the end, societies depend on people who can fix, create, build, wire, and design. There will be a point where snapping a picture next to a beauty product won't hold as much significance as having practical skills..
What do you think about these statistics? For m the ratio of retirees to trainees is alarming in one way, and in another its promising. its a land of opportunity that I have found myself in and I hope to bring as many people along with me.
"How can I get started?"
Great question! Ill link some great informational items and starter kits that helped me at the beginning.
Disclaimer: I may earn a portion of each purchase if you use these links.
Woodworking Shop 101: How To Set Up A Shop On A Budget https://amzn.to/3yem2JK
Dewalt Drill Driver set 20V https://amzn.to/3LTlI6g
Dewalt Table Saw https://amzn.to/4c8hGlf
Bob Lang's The Complete Kitchen Cabinetmaker https://amzn.to/4cfztXs
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