To raise awareness for the abundance and evolution of trade careers, skilled trade associations, and building trade unions, including the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART), and International Training Institute (ITI) have come together to launch the first National Careers In Trades Week (April 7-11, 2025).

The move comes on the heels of a growth in such career and technical education programs. The numbers show faster-than-average job growth in the trade sector from 2023 to 2033. The careers also offer earning potential that exceeds the median wage across all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

It is, perhaps for these reasons, that 89% of parents with children currently enrolled in high school or college think it’s smart for young adults to consider pursuing a career in the trades, taking into account the job market, economy, and college debt. The new research that was conducted independently by Wakefield Research also revealed that 47% of parents have had their child mention wanting to go into a trade, and 86% of parents would be open or encourage it.

To raise awareness for the abundance and evolution of trade careers, skilled trade associations, and building trade unions, including the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART), and International Training Institute (ITI) have come together to launch the first National Careers In Trades Week (April 7-11, 2025).

Activities throughout the week will increase awareness about the benefits of choosing careers in the skilled trades among job seekers and the American public, with the goal of filling thousands of positions that are essential to the country’s economic growth.

Why skilled jobs are the future

BLS occupational outlook predicts about 663,000 construction job openings each year and showed a median annual wage of $55,000 in 2023, higher than that of all occupations. Furthermore, the Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Program provides training and education for hundreds of thousands of workers in fields ranging from construction to manufacturing to public administration.

Within the sheet metal industry, training and working with union contractors can offer even greater rewards with apprentices earning up to $87,500 in their first year and as much as $120,000 to $200,000 in wages and benefits within four to five years of completing an apprenticeship program.

New research shows 89% of parents of kids enrolled in high school or college believe it’s smart for young adults to consider trade careers; 86% would be open to or encourage it

“Skilled professions play critical roles in building the world in which we live, work, and play – vital to the construction of chip plants, stadiums, healthcare facilities, factories and data centers. It’s time that we provide a fresh look at how trade careers have evolved technologically and financially,” says SMACNA CEO Aaron Hilger. “With approximately 35,000 sheet metal workers due to retire, the time to raise awareness of the opportunities and benefits among young workers is now.”

In fact, according to recent data, members of Generation Z, now being called the Toolbelt Generation, are attracted to the trades as an alternative to college debt and immediate entrance to a rewarding and well-paying job. Technological advancements including AI, drones and laser welding, for example, also are redefining what it means to work in a skilled trade.

This work also provides the chance to make a lasting impact on the world through the construction of critical infrastructure and continuous opportunities to learn innovative techniques for solving complex problems.

Additional data from Thumbtack shows about 9 in 10 Gen Z graduates believe choosing a career in a skilled trade can offer a more reliable path to economic security than college. The findings also reveal there is near equal interest among Gen Z women and men in the trades (52 percent vs 57 percent, respectively) – signaling a major shift from previous generations.

As categorized by the BLS, skilled trades encompass a wide range of professions that typically require specialized training or apprenticeships that are essential for industries such as construction, manufacturing, energy and transportation. Key examples include sheet metal workers, HVAC technicians, electricians, pipefitters, welders, plumbers, masons and carpenters, among many more.

“Union apprenticeships aren’t just a career path. They’re a gateway to a stable, rewarding future. By investing in the next generation of trade workers, we’re building a skilled workforce that will power our industries and communities for decades to come,” says Michael Coleman, SMART General President.”

The 2025 research was conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of the SMACNA among 500 U.S. parents of kids currently enrolled in high school or college between Feb. 12-21, 2025, using an email invitation and an online survey.