Vocational education is a viable pathway to employment and financial self-sufficiency for the millions of high school seniors who do not plan to attend college.
Earning a vocational certificate translates into higher earnings over the course of a lifetime. Workers with some type of vocational training often earn more than workers with just a high school diploma. In some cases, workers in the most highly paid vocational positions earn more than workers with a college degree.
For example, the median salary for an electrical repairer is just under $80,000, significantly higher than the median salary for teaching, which often requires a graduate degree.
Stigmas Against Vocational Training Remain
Despite the benefits of entering vocational school, too few students choose this pathway. One reason for this is an enduring stigma against trade schools and vocational training programs. Well-meaning parents and guidance counselors may steer students into four-year programs based on the assumption that a college degree will have a higher rate of return.
While it is true that individuals with a college education on average earn more than those in the trades, this is only applicable to students who graduate. Around one-third of students who enter degree programs don’t finish. These students end up with college debt and the career prospects of a high school graduate.
Vocational programs are much cheaper and shorter than most four-year and even two-year degree programs. Many schools incorporate internships, apprenticeships, and other work and earn opportunities that allow students to gain hands-on experience while completing their education.
For this reason, graduates of vocational programs usually find employment faster and at higher wages after completing their training.
Types of Vocational Education Programs
Vocational education is varied. There are many types of programs that prepare graduates for roles in every field. The most common industries are healthcare, construction, and skilled services.
Vocational programs may confer degrees or certificates. Here are a few of the typical pathways:
Trade school—Also known as technical schools, trade schools accept high school graduates or GED recipients. These programs often offer a combination of theoretical and practical courses where students can practice performing the tasks they will need to complete in the real world. Trade schools offer programs in everything from IT to hairdressing. After graduating, students typically hold the qualifications for entry-level work in their field.
On-the-job training—Some schools or nonprofits partner with businesses to create on-the-job training programs. These programs can combine an internship or full-time position with classes or self-paced learning modules. Companies generally participate in these programs to create a talent pool for their workforce. Participants who complete the program are generally offered permanent roles.
Apprenticeships—Apprenticeships are similar to on-the-job training, but are usually more formal. These arrangements are usually mediated by unions or other labor organizations. Companies must go through stringent requirements in order to take on apprentices, and their work conditions and wages must meet specific criteria. After an apprenticeship, graduates are generally qualified to perform independently. Since slots are limited, apprenticeships tend to be competitive.
Bootcamps—Since technology adapts faster than the curriculum at traditional four-year colleges, short-term bootcamps have emerged to fill in the knowledge gap. These programs are often short and very intensive. Students may be expected to complete dozens of hours of self-led work in addition to completing the course. While many people enter bootcamps after earning a degree, this pathway is also open to high school graduates. There are bootcamps for different types of tech-focused positions, including programming, cybersecurity, and data analytics.
How to Sell Vocational Training to Seniors
While the US struggles with enrolling young people in vocational training programs, other nations are much better at engaging students in alternative pathways. Around half of the European Union’s high school students enroll in vocational education.
Reversing this trend is vital, as companies in essential trades such as construction and infrastructure face difficulty in filling positions.
There are several ways to entice young people to consider alternative post-high school career paths. For example, offering vocational courses in high school, or even middle school, can introduce students to different industries early in their academic life and influence their later choices.
Students also respond well to meeting role models in their field. Career days that showcase successful individuals working in the trades can help students view vocational education as an attractive option.
Marketing campaigns can educate students by highlighting the true earning potential of vocational certificate holders and sharing the statistics about college debt and dropout rates.
Conclusion
While entering a four-year university after high school is a well-proven pathway to a rewarding career, it shouldn’t be presented as the only option. Many students would have a better start in life by completing a vocational training program and gaining work experience in a skilled trade.