When I was gearing up to graduate from high school, I knew there were a variety of options for me to take. However, there was one avenue that was pushed in school for seniors and that option (of course) was going straight into college. Whether that was junior college or a four-year university, that was a common answer that I received from most adults in my life; next step, go to college. Now, I am grateful that I was able to have that educational experience and life experience for that matter at a four-year university. However, I think there is another avenue that is not highlighted enough for individuals looking to either make a career change or those that are entering the workforce. That avenue is trade programs/vocational schools.

A trade job generally refers to any job whose duties require advanced training and skills gained through means other than a bachelor's degree and the energy industry is no stranger to trade programs. From HVAC training, electrician programs, and construction certifications, there are countless trade paths that can lead to the energy industry. With the opportunity to expand our workforce, we must also recognize that the way we go about hiring and recruiting must also expand. In my own personal experience, there is an associated stigma around vocational/trade school and I am here to tell you why that is not only wrong but why it is so important for our industry to encourage these programs to better our workforce.

“In the United States, college has been painted as the pathway to success for generations, and it can be, for many….If students are exposed to the possibility of vocational training early on, that might help remove some of the stigmas, and help students alike see a variety of paths to a successful future.” (Atlantic).

One of the barriers that we find when it comes to employment starts even before the job hunt does. And that is finding what educational venture is right for you that not only serves your interests and passions but also pushes you in a specific career direction. To put it simply, college is not for everyone and that is becoming more and more prevalent as the years pass and the crippling student debt increases EXPONENTIALLY (but that is another topic that I won’t bore you with). People with young children, early 20 years old’s that cannot pick up and move to a new city, individuals in their 50s looking for a new career, or even high school graduates; colleges are not set up to cater the needs of all people which is why we need to expand access and enhance exposure to these programs that can lead so many to fulfilling careers in the energy industry. Mary Alice McCarthy (director of the Center on Education and Skills with the education policy program at New America) says it best: “A lot of Americans need a job, not an acceptance to college…” The manufacturing, infrastructure, and transportation fields are all expected to grow in the coming years—and many of those jobs likely will not require a four-year degree, meaning there is no greater opportunity than now.

Now let us narrow the scope. Here is the San Joaquin Valley, these programs have a high level of importance for our workforce. Our communities are severely disadvantaged compared to the statistics of the state of California. The highest rates of poverty in the San Joaquin Valley in 2017 were in Tulare County (23%), Fresno County (21%), and Merced County (20%), with the lowest poverty rates in San Joaquin County and Stanislaus County (each at 14%). Paying tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars for a bachelor’s degree is not as feasible as everyone makes it seem. To make matters more difficult, resources (like job opportunities or programs) are difficult to find in these rural, disadvantaged communities. By increasing the accessibility for community members to participate in these trade programs, we would be providing more than just an education for them. A stable income, a good career, and an education that will not lead to high amounts of debt can move mountains for those that live in these underserved communities.

Part of Energizing the Workforce is highlighting the problematic components that exist in our industry. One of which is that it appears every organization across the country is putting forth “plans” to enact equity and diversify their workplace and so on and so forth. The steps that follow are a true testament to whether these organizations mean what they say. With that being said, if you want to be more equitable bring your resources to communities that have fought tirelessly to access them and to those that NEED them to survive (i.e. bringing trade/vocational energy programs to Valley residents). Trade programs that bring good-paying jobs to underserved areas will be a step in creating an equitable energy industry.  

Sources:
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/03/choosing-trade-school-over-college/584275/
https://www.rockfordcareercollege.edu/blog/8-benefits-going-trade-school
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/02/23/want-more-jobs-give-high-school-students-more-exposure-to-training-for-a-variety-of-careers/
http://www.californiawater.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/SJV-Water-System-Investment-Program.pdf