The numbers do not lie — it is a good time to make a living behind the wheel or under the hood. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 240,300 openings for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers each year until 2033, along with 13,400 yearly openings for aircraft technicians and 25,600 for diesel mechanics over the same timeframe.
National Public Radio recently highlighted what one respondent dubbed the “tool-belt generation,” noting the growing number of young people opting for vocational schools and on-the-job training over a traditional college degree. One likely motivation is purely economic: less confident about the return on investment, students are seeking career pathways that do not involve several-figure debt in pursuit of a diploma.
“We had a stint where we said you’ve got to have a bachelor of arts in order to be able to earn a living,” said Summer DeProw, chancellor at the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock. “In today’s world, with the generational shift, the higher-tech skill set, it’s just not true.”
IN THE WINGS…