As college enrollment tanks, there’s a growing push to celebrate students going into skilled trades

Michael wanted to be a pilot. As he got older, he decided to follow in his father's footsteps and become a professional welder.

A senior at Clute, Texas's Brazoswood High School has already landed a job that will start after graduation.

My dad always wanted me to be in the white-collar class, but he's proud of me.

Michael Martinez on Career Signing Day, 2022.

In Texas, there are more industrial job openings than people to fill them.

Chris Witte, a senior vice president and site leader for a chemical company in Texas, said that part of the labor shortage is due to experienced workers aging out of the field.

The goal is to show students that these are high-paying jobs.

Four years of college loses its appeal as student loan debt spirals.

An annual Career Signing Day is hosted by the school district to encourage more students to consider careers in the field.

"This Career Signing Day came out of the blue, and I thought I might as well try it."

Signing days, when soon-to-be high school graduates pledge to attend a particular university, are known to more people than before.

These occasions are celebrated by friends, family and the community at large for college-bound athletes.

School districts are giving their support and praise to high school students who are committed to a skilled trade.

Just as we would celebrate a football player or any other athlete, we want to celebrate just as proudly our skilled tradesmen and women and their decision to pursue a career.

"Just as we would celebrate a football player or any other athlete, we want to celebrate our skilled craftsmen and women and their decision to pursue a career."

What they do is essential work.

More than 1,000 students from 33 states took part in Career Signing Day.

48 graduating seniors, including Martinez, signed for full-time jobs at one of the chemical and petrochemical companies that make up the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council.

These seniors from Brazoria County, Texas high schools committed to full-time jobs on Career Signing Day, 2022.

The most popular Career Signing Day was the fourth. More students applied for and were hired into full-time jobs than last year.

The response has been great, according to a committee chair and resource development coordinators for the district.

We are close to being one of the largest signing days up and down the Gulf Coast.

To be considered, students must submit written applications and interview with hiring managers.

We need to know that these applicants are serious about their commitment because they can potentially last an entire career.

It is a rigorous process because these jobs represent a substantial investment by the contract and BCPC member companies.

I was excited and scared because I didn't know if any of the girls would get a job offer.

Adrianna Webster on Career Signing Day, 2022.

One of the students was offered a full-time position at KCG as a welder, earning $16 an hour.

She said that nobody in her family has gone to college.

She starts in July after competing in a national welding competition.

Teenagers are rethinking the value of college.

According to recent reports, more students are choosing career-linked pathways over four-year colleges because of the heightened demand for workers, rising cost of tuition and growing student loan burden.

Skillsy trade programs are booming.

In the last two years, the likelihood of attending a four-year school has gone down. Five times since February 2020, the ECMC Group has surveyed high school students.

More than one-third of high school students believe a career and technical education can lead to success.

Today's students want to forge their own path, which is shorter in duration, more affordable and connects directly to a career.

More than one-quarter of high school seniors said their plans have changed since the start of the epidemic, with fewer students interested in going to college at all.

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