The typical college graduate in the U.S. makes about $60,000 a year at the peak of his or her career, according to Bloomberg Businessweek, and is likely to pay about $3,000 a year in loans.
Many young people who start college never finish but still have loans.
The 2016 high school graduates may not be aware of these facts. And they are uninformed about training programs in the trades. The shortage of welders alone is expected to reach almost 300,000 by 2020.
Plumbers are also in high demand. An 18-year-old spending four years as an apprentice might earn a total of $100,000 during that time. But after that a young plumber can make $50,000 a year with steady income increases over time. A master plumber can earn, $100,000 to $200,000 a year.
Many skills that are vital for a high-performing economy aren't taught in colleges and universities. In addition to welding and plumbing, they include carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, machinists, masons, mechanics, steamfitters, plasterers, and technicians of every kind. Many earn incomes that may exceed those for white-collar jobs.
Today, there's a big need for people with these skills, especially in construction, but there aren't enough qualified workers to fill them.
High school guidance counselors and teachers need to promote careers in the skilled trades, especially for those bright young men and women who don't want to go to college.
