Vocational Training Boosts Employment, Salary Potential
It's a common misconception that all trade professionals learn on the job. While some workers certainly hone their skills this way, many employers prefer or require the formal vocational education and training that trade schools provide. Some industries, like cosmetology or plumbing, even require vocational training or apprenticeships before individuals can obtain their license to work or required certifications.
Top 10 Industries Offering Vocational Education and Training
The following are perfect examples of industries benefiting from the vocational education and training trade schools provide. In many cases, this vocational training is a requirement for employment, licensure, or union membership, sometimes on an ongoing basis.
- Applied Technology
- Auto Maintenance and Repair
- Aviation Maintenance and Repair
- Beauty and Cosmetology
- Computer and Appliance Repair
- Electrician
- HVAC
- Plumbing
- Transportation
- Welding
More Benefits of Vocational Schools and Apprenticeships
It's true that many employers and trade unions require their workers or members to undergo apprenticeships or formal vocational training, but the benefits of vocational schools don't end there. According to a May 2009 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), salaries increase and unemployment rates decline with education, an important consideration in a difficult economic climate.
Even if your industry doesn't require ongoing vocational training and education, pursuing it can set you apart from your peers and make you a more marketable worker. Finally, some trade labor unions require apprenticeship, ongoing vocational education, and training for membership, which in turn ensure that your safety, wages, and employment status are protected.
