Attracting the Next Generation

In researching this feature, we came across an article written by Adam Wallenstein on attracting the next generation to the trades. 

“Over the past several decades, it’s become somewhat of an expected norm for high schoolers to head to a four-year college directly after graduation,” he writes for cleveland.com., an online news site for Ohio that attracts an average of almost 10 million unique users every month. “But with the increasing costs of higher education (The Simple Dollar Reports that the average bachelor’s degree now costs $127,000), I think it’s worth turning this expectation on its side.”

As someone who runs a plumbing business and who grew up in the trades, Adam shared his top five reasons why young people should consider a career in the PHCP industry:

No student debt: With an apprentice program, students can learn a skilled trade while being paid. “It’s a win-win,” he writes, “As a business owner, I get to see talent rise quickly, and on the other side, people get real-life experience in the field.”

Earn as much as college graduates: Adam says he’s seen talented people earn six-figure compensation packages in the trades. “And quite honestly,” he writes, “we’re always searching for young talent.”

Glamorous profession: Yeah, that’s right. “Our team at Neptune walks in with expensive, high-quality equipment and tools you have to be trained to use, from premium sewer cameras to high-tech locaters and augmented reality capabilities in the field,” Adam writes.

High job demand: Every business, every person needs a trained PHCP professional to build, repair and service. “Trade jobs can’t be outsourced,” Adam writes. “With the baby boomer generation facing retirement years, there’s a lot of opportunity for the next generation!”

Save the world: Everyone in the profession has seen the poster that says, “The Plumber Protects the Health of the Nation." But the average high schooler hasn’t and doesn’t know that. “At Neptune, we work every day to help our staff find new ways to look at problems,” Adam writes, “and are proud of the ways we contribute to a functioning, healthy world."