It’s incredible how certain topics, particularly those you are passionate about seem to pop up in your radar constantly until you do something about it and this topic has been one of my shadows for a while. So humor me as I get this off my chest….
It’s getting towards that time of year when many school leavers and those selecting subjects for next year are weighing up university placements and prerequisites, however it has become increasingly apparent that the perception of pursuing a trade has deteriorated of late.
According to Anthony O’Brien in the August Edition of Money Magazine, approximately 4 out 5 parents prefer their child to undertake a university degree rather than a Vocational Training Pathway into a trade as it seems to be perceived as the “poor cousin” or what you do when you can’t get into a uni. A decrease in respect and acknowledgement for trades within the media and careers counselors have also compounded this perception and it’s significantly affecting the number of skilled and quality tradespeople we are training for our future.
However, according to a newly released report by the Skilling Australia Foundation, Vocational Training graduates are able to secure employment more easily and can potentially be paid more than those completing a university degree. Couple that with increasing University fees (another 7.5% over the next 4 years), an upcoming decrease to the HECS-HELP threshold to $42,000 and a trade skills shortage, it certainly has us wondering why completing a trade isn’t viewed as a priority option?
Another factor worthy of discussion and comparison is DEBT! As discussed by L Ahwan and M Burgess from News Corp Australia, University fees can vary from between $6,000 and $10,000 per year depending on the course, whilst apprentices earn from their employer as they work and progress through their training. Now, we can appreciate that the hourly rates are not mind-blowing, especially in the beginning, however they are certainly not starting their full employment off with a shoulder load of debt.
So to take this further lets crunch some numbers……
- The median full-time income for a VET Graduate is $56,000 and the median bachelor degree graduate’s salary is $54,000.
- The highest average starting salary for a VET Graduate (CERT IV in Hazardous Areas-Electrical) is $85,400 which is not much below that of the starting salary of a GP at $90,000.
- Seek indicates job ads for trades and services recently went up by 19% compared with the same time last year and yet TAFE enrollments in NSW alone have decreased by 51% so far this year.
So when you compare the earning potential, the initial qualification cost and the availability of work…… it doesn’t make sense.
We at Michael Limb Builders are passionate about quality trades, we value them, respect them and appreciate working with them. We also believe it’s time to put our hand up and raise the respect and public perception for the next generation of tradespeople. There are some incredibly talented and skilled workers in our midst and we will always need them, but it means that we have to start encouraging and training them NOW.
In no way, shape or form is a trade qualification “just what you do when your other options have run out”. We owe it to the next generation to encourage the pursuit of knowledge, education and qualifications via all avenues, not just with a university degree.
So if you have a teen, are a teen, a mature age student or a careers adviser considering qualifications in a trade or vocational training please take the time to consider all options. Better yet, ring one of us or a successful Tradesperson you know for a chat about your options. It might just be the best decision you ever make….. and who knows you could end up as happy as our apprentice! 