Hands-on Skills, Trade Schools Thrive as AI Concerns Grow
WASHINGTON (TNND) — In an era defined by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, a renewed emphasis on hands-on skills and trade schools is taking root across the nation. School districts are investing in updated trade programs, attracting a new generation of students seeking practical skills and career paths.
Student Abbey Carlson works during welding class at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville Wednesday, April 13, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. While almost every sector of higher education is seeing fewer students registering for classes, many trade school programs are booming with young people who are choosing trade school over a traditional four-year degree. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Scott Shelar, President & CEO of ‘Construction Ready,’ a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting individuals with trade jobs, highlights the increasing interest. He noted the record attendance at their annual career expo in Georgia.
“We had our largest turnout ever. We had over 10,000 attendees,” Shelar said. Over 6,000 students from across the state participated, receiving hands-on experience in various trades.
“They could actually roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty and lay brick and block,” Shelar explained. He attributes the surge to the perceived threat of AI in white-collar jobs and the rising cost of traditional college education.
“There’s a little bit of fear there that a lot of these white-collar jobs that college prepares you for are being replaced by AI,” Shelar stated. He adds that the burden of student loan debt is also a major factor.
Wilson Haworth, Director of Virtual Design at Juneau Construction, confirmed the industry’s need for young, ambitious employees. “We absolutely need that investment. We need people coming in and the workforce to be developed,” Haworth said.
While acknowledging the integration of AI in most companies, Haworth emphasized its role in augmenting, rather than replacing, workers. “We can actually start to think about the workers and we can start to think about the quality of life and we can achieve the same level of output with a higher quality of life,” said Haworth.
Currently, Georgia public schools have more than 17,000 students enrolled in 150 skilled trade programs focused on construction and metalworking.
