Capitalize on growing interest in technical careers

From Fleet Owner.

Here’s some good news: Enrollment in trade schools is growing, according to several studies. But studies don’t always represent the real world, so I was happy to see the news that WyoTech, a diesel and automotive technician trade school, has seen its enrollment grow significantly—from 26 students in 2018 to 685 by October 2021.

“The growth of WyoTech, as well as other trade and vocational schools across the nation, is a sign of the changing times within the U.S. job market,” said Jim Mathis, president of WyoTech. “There has been a growing emphasis on skilled labor, as those jobs remain unfilled the longest.”

I know 685 is nowhere close to the number of technicians we need, but it represents a significant growth in people interested in pursuing careers as technicians. This increased enrollment comes at a time when enrollment in undergraduate programs at colleges and universities has declined. The press release included statistics from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center that indicated undergraduate enrollment has fallen 3% since the fall of 2020.

I think all of us in the trucking industry should try to take advantage of this small bit of momentum. The COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness about the true value of the trucking industry as many people realized—perhaps for the first time—just how all that stuff got on the shelves of their favorite stores and into their homes. While it is probably going a little too far to say trucking is enjoying a renaissance, I think more people have become aware of the important role trucking plays in the economy and in their daily lives.
All of us in the trucking industry need to seize this opportunity and spend some time making young people aware of the great jobs that are available in trucking—not just as drivers and technicians but also across our operations.

See the complete article online at Fleet Owner.