The Wall Street Journal published a lengthy article discussing how employers are increasingly recruiting high schoolers into the skilled trades to address workforce shortages as Baby Boomers retire. The article explains that increased efforts to recruit high schoolers into professions such as electrical work, plumbing, and welding have also helped to spur a revitalization of shop classes in many school districts. Businesses are also teaming up with high schools to enable students to work part-time, earning money as well as academic credit. Employers also say that as the skilled trades become more tech-infused, they anticipate doing more recruitment at an early age, because they need workers who are comfortable programming and running computer diagnostics.
