How US students are flocking to high school shop classes as enrollment soars 13%, offering a hedge against AI job disruption – The Times of India
As generative artificial intelligence continues to disrupt white-collar jobs across industries, a surprising trend is emerging in American high schools. Students are increasingly turning to vocational education, particularly shop classes, as a hedge against the uncertainty of the job market. With interest in hands-on skills growing, school districts across the United States are investing millions of dollars in revitalizing and expanding these programs.
This renewed focus on vocational training comes at a time when soaring college tuition and AI-driven job displacement have left many students reconsidering their career paths. In fact, the number of students enrolling in trade-oriented courses has surged by 13%, signaling a shift toward blue-collar careers that promise stability and high wages.
Rising demand for hands-on skills
Many school districts are pouring tens of millions of dollars into revamping their technical education facilities. In Middleton, Wisconsin, the district spent $90 million on a campus overhaul in 2022, which included modernizing their vocational education spaces. The high school’s manufacturing lab, now visible behind fishbowl-style glass walls, features cutting-edge tools, including robotic arms and computer-controlled machinery, offering students a glimpse into the future of manufacturing.
Interest in these courses is high. Approximately 25% of the 2,300 students at Middleton High School have enrolled in construction, manufacturing, and woodworking classes. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Quincy Millerjohn, a welding instructor at Middleton High, notes, “We want kids going to college to feel these courses fit on their transcripts along with AP and honors.” According to Millerjohn, blue-collar careers such as welding and steamfitting offer competitive salaries, with pay ranging from $41 to $52 an hour.
This trend reflects a growing acceptance of vocational education as a viable alternative to the traditional four-year college route. “Kids can see these aren’t knuckle-dragging jobs,” Millerjohn adds, illustrating a shift in perception about manual labor careers.
Shop classes see significant enrollment boosts
Vocational education is gaining momentum across the nation, with significant increases in enrollment. In Wisconsin, 32,000 high school students enrolled in architecture and construction courses during the 2022-2023 school year, marking a 10% rise from the previous year. Similarly, 36,000 students enrolled in manufacturing courses, a 13% increase. As education consultant Jake Mihm of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, quoted by The Wall Street Journal, explains, “They’re high-skill, high-wage jobs that are attractive to people because they’re hands-on, and heads-on”.
The boost in enrollment signals a broader shift in how students view career prospects. Across the country, local governments and businesses are rallying behind vocational education as a way to fill high-demand jobs. In states like Ohio, schools receive financial incentives for offering classes that lead to industry certifications in fields such as pharmaceutical technology and pipe fitting.
In Middleton, the demand for shop classes has grown so much that teacher Justin Zander, who has taught woodworking for decades, had to add extra classes to accommodate the 175 students enrolled each semester. Zander notes that the program has gained more respect over the years, with students and parents alike realizing the potential of blue-collar careers. “People are more accepting now,” he says, as quoted by The Wall Street Journal.
Investment in vocational programs pays off
As more school districts realize the potential of vocational programs, they are increasingly investing in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. In Sutherlin, Oregon, a $750,000 metal shop was opened, supported by a $375,000 state grant and $50,000 from Harbor Freight Tools for Schools. The investment has paid off, with enrollment in woodworking courses jumping from 30 to 150 students.
Josh Gary, a woodworking instructor at Sutherlin High School, credits the increased interest in hands-on skills to a shift in how society views trade work. “The trades are just more valued these days,” Gary says, as quoted by The Wall Street Journal. He points out that even high-achieving students are now looking at careers in skilled trades, where they can earn competitive wages without incurring college debt.
In fact, Gary’s students are aware of the financial benefits that trade jobs can offer. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, students in vocational courses can make anywhere from $20 an hour as a welder’s helper to $60,000 a year for pipeline jobs after additional training at community colleges.
A rising tide of demand for skilled workers
The trend of increasing interest in vocational education is not limited to high schools alone. Enrollment in two-year community colleges focused on vocational training jumped 14% in fall 2024 compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, enrollment at public four-year colleges increased by only 3%. This shift reflects a growing realization that many well-paying jobs do not require a four-year degree, particularly in fields like construction, manufacturing, and healthcare.
Districts like the Spring Branch Independent School District in Houston, Texas, are making major investments in vocational education. The district is constructing a $140 million career and technical education center that will offer a range of courses, including auto repair, digital animation, and healthcare. With plans to accommodate 2,200 students each semester, the center will help meet the growing demand for skilled workers in fields with high earning potential.
According to Jennifer Blaine, the district’s superintendent, “Not everybody wants to go to college, and some people don’t want to go to college right away.” As a result, the district has seen a 9% increase in enrollment in vocational courses over the past four years.
Vocational training offers financial stability
One of the key reasons for the growing interest in vocational programs is the promise of financial stability. Many students are now viewing shop classes as a pathway to high-paying jobs that do not require expensive degrees. For instance, in the Kern High School District in Bakersfield, California, students who take vocational courses can enter the workforce immediately after graduation, with starting pay for welding helpers reaching $20 an hour. With further training, students can secure six-figure salaries in industries like oil pipeline construction.
The district’s Regional Occupational Center, which spent $100 million to build a new vocational center, is seeing overwhelming demand for its courses. “Last school year, 6,200 students applied for 2,500 spots,” says Fernando Castro, one of the district’s vocational instructors. The demand for skilled workers is so high that businesses are partnering with local schools to train their future employees. As Tom Moser, service manager at Jim Burke Ford Lincoln in Bakersfield, explains, “You can pretty much write your own ticket once you’ve acquired the skills.”
