NKBA: Interest Level in Skilled Trades Careers Strong Among Male and Female High School Students

One in five high-school-aged respondents to an NKBA study cited "learning a skill" and "good pay" as the top perceived benefit of entering a skilled trade career.

Interest levels in skilled trade careers are almost as high among female high schoolers as male high schoolers, according to the Skilled Trade Candidate Attitudinal Assessment study conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Remodeling and renovation careers are the top-ranked careers for females, and smart-home technology, audio, video, and security installation careers garner the highest interest among males, according to the study.

The study found that high school class and training programs, social media, and home improvement project work at home were the greatest sources of initial interest for high school students. One in five respondents cited "learning a skill" and "good pay" as the top perceived benefit of entering a skilled trade career. Conversely, 22% of students cited "hard physical work" as the top drawback, while 12% of respondents said skilled trade careers did not offer "enough money." Respondents indicated their top preferred learning methods were field trips to local businesses, one-on-one days at worksites, and career days.