Skilled trades in high school: what voters, parents, and students want from policymakers and educators

Voters, parents, and high school students share a remarkably positive view of skilled trades classes and support greater investment in these courses to prepare students for life after high school, according to a new study from Harbor Freight Tools for Schools conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago. The study finds broad and bipartisan support among voters and parents alike for a variety of funding mechanisms to bolster skilled trades education. Both groups also want federal and local government to spend more on skilled trades education and would support candidates who favor increasing government funding for these classes. 

This study features a nationally representative survey of voters, parents and students conducted in 2019 examining attitudes toward and experiences with skilled trades education and careers. 

Three Key Takeaways: 

1) More than 8 in 10 voters favor federal funding for skilled trades and think trades should be a priority. 

2) Eight in 10 parents believe their child would be more prepared for a career if there were more chances to study skilled trades in high school. 

3) Students in high schools that offer skilled trades courses are more likely than those in schools without such classes to say skilled trades jobs are important (72% vs. 58%), creative (56% vs. 44%), and respected (53% vs. 38%). 

Read the report