About National Careers in Trades Week

To raise awareness for the abundance and evolution of trade careers, skilled trade associations and building trade unions, including SMACNA, SMART, ITI, NECA, MCAA, NEMI, and SMOHIT have come together to celebrate and support National Careers In Trades Week, celebrated the first full week of April each year.

Trade careers are abundant, in demand, and projected to stay that way. With dozens of skilled trades to choose from and employment opportunities increasing faster than the average for all occupations, workers are increasingly turning to the skilled trades as an alternative to college. GenZ, in particular, has been called the toolbelt generation due to their growing interest in joining the trades. It’s understandable considering the trades pay well, eliminate college debt, and meaningfully contribute to society.

According to the Bureau of Labor (BLS) statistics, the median annual wage for the trades was $58K in 2024, higher than the median wage of all occupations. High school students opting for a technical education career track can avoid college debt, which currently averages $34,000 for a four-year bachelor’s degree. Instead, students can get paid for apprenticeships and enter the workforce with money in the bank and no college debt.

The work is rewarding, too. Tradespeople are responsible for constructing, maintaining, and repairing homes, schools, hospitals, buildings, roads and other vital structures we use every day. The skilled trade professions work together to construct the buildings that are essential to fueling the economy, including chip factories, data centers, state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, and nuclear power plants.