Lucrative Trade Jobs
Trade jobs are not always perceived as being a well paid, first-rate profession. However, they can be much more lucrative and fulfilling than many white collar jobs. Plus, you often don’t have to sell a product if you’re in a trade field. Trade jobs can include a wide variety of career paths, including:
- Animal Grooming
- Automotive Technology
- Animal Training
- Auto Body Technology
- Construction Management
- Home Inspection
- Motorcycle Mechanics
- Electrical Engineering
- HVAC
Experience required in trade jobs
Many of these jobs can start off paying pretty well, and you don’t necessarily need a bachelor’s degree to get the training. Often an associate’s degree offered by a community college will suffice. Some students can get a leg up in their field by getting some training through a local government program. Often local employment offices offer some training for certain skills. Students who receive some training like this may have an advantage when they choose to pursue an associate’s degree or certificate through a community college. Students can also pay for some classes for an online degree.
Trade jobs are needed everywhere
Another great thing about trade jobs is that they’re in high demand everywhere. Many trade jobs such as auto body technology, air conditioning/refrigeration, motorcycle mechanics, HVAC, automotive technology are needed in almost every city. Jobs in home inspection may be the best now in many places in the Southeast and Midwest, where the real estate market is somewhat better. However, home inspectors are needed everywhere, even when the real estate market is slumping. Even jobs in animal grooming are in high demand all over the nation. People enjoy taking care of their pets, even in times of recession. Even welders are highly coveted positions.
What is the Future of Skilled Trade?
Despite the downturn in the economy in 2010, the market for skilled trade workers is expected to grow. The Bureau of Labour Statistics has estimated that between 2004 and 2014 there will be 40 million job openings for workers without a bachelor's degree. That's more than twice the number of jobs for people gradutaing from four-year college and universitites. There was $144 billion from the national stimulus package set aside for infrastructure jobs and this is going to generate thousands of jobs. Click here to learn more about these Future Trade Jobs.
Skills needed
There are so many trade jobs that it’s hard to pinpoint all of the skills needed in all of the career paths. However, there are some skills that you will be almost guaranteed to need. One important trait is the ability to focus and pay attention. Some trade jobs can be dangerous. You can get electrocuted while working on an air conditioning unit or suffer from burns while welding. Other skills include:
- Attention to detail.
- Math skills.
- Basic reading and writing.
- Good eyesight.
- Ability to work well with your hands.
- Good hand-eye coordination.
The most important skills are probably the ability to focus and to be attentive to detail. If you work hard enough, you can develop the other skills.
