As the unemployment rate across the country jumps to a four-year high, interest in skilled trade jobs such as construction is on the rise. Programs at San Diego colleges are seeing increased enrollment in courses dedicated to technical fields.

San Diego

With national unemployment at its highest in four years, there is a notable shift toward skilled trade careers such as construction. Local colleges are experiencing increased enrollment in vocational programs, as students weigh the costs and duration of traditional university degrees against vocational training. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction sector is projected to grow by 5.6 percent, and wages for top construction jobs in San Diego are among the highest in the field.

Graduates from apprenticeship programs report improved financial stability and job satisfaction. The growing recognition of the value of skilled trades, combined with competitive pay and job security, is attracting a new generation to these professions.

Rising demand for skilled trades amid higher unemployment rate

As the unemployment numbers across the country jump to a four-year high, there's an increased interest in skill trade jobs like construction. And there are a number of local programs at colleges that focus on this industry. Adrian Baker Kang graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science, and he has an MBA from Georgetown. He worked years in the tech and startup industry, but he put all of that aside to take up a new career in construction. Five to ten years, it's going to look completely different. And so for me, I'm trying to get ahead of the curve right now and do something that cannot be replaced by information technology. And there are many others like Adrian who are moving into the technical field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the construction sector is expected to grow by 5.6 percent. Here in San Diego, there's a growing interest in the vocational classes on college campuses. As more students are looking at the difference in the cost of college tuition compared to vocational training and the length of each program. In-state tuition at a four-year state university will cost you $7,448 a year without other expenses like books or housing. Two years at a vocational school starts at $3,000 a year to more than $25,000 a year depending on the type of classes. It's a really booming industry. There are a lot of great benefits, and when you join the union, it is a setup for success. Just like everything in life, if you don't use it, you lose it. At the College of Continuing Education, they've seen an increase in the number of students looking to enroll in their 10-week apprenticeship readiness program, which is geared towards construction trade unions. I think for a while, people looked down on the trades, but we're really seeing how valuable that skill is. It's really turning, and we're seeing how being able to build and provide and doing the work is really speaking to this generation. And pay is another reason for the interest. Constructioncoverage.com did a study looking at construction wages by city. In San Diego, the top three paying construction jobs are elevator and escalator repairers and installers, who get an hourly wage of about $66 an hour. Insulation workers get $57 an hour, and construction and building inspectors get paid $48 an hour. I sat right there. David Lewis just recently completed the apprenticeship readiness program at the College of Continuing Education. You want to try it one more time? He says this new skill set has guaranteed a stable future for him and his family. Each trade comes in there, and they'll say, when I got into this trade, it changed my life. Basically, the money issue. They've made more money than they've ever made before. A lot of overtime, and if you like to work outside, it's a lot of benefits if that's for you. Marie Cornell, ABC 10 News.

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