Members of the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council (BCPC) and their allied contract companies offered a record 155 full time jobs in the skilled trades to over 100 graduating seniors with additional offers to come later this month. This compared to 79 students who signed in 2023.
Career Signing Day
All offers will be formalized on ‘Signing Day,’ April 23, 2024, at the Dow Academic Center on the campus of Brazosport College, located in Clute, Texas. Brazoria County, Texas is directly south of Houston, TX. These jobs include welding, pipefitting, millwright, ironworking, electrical, instrumentation, HVAC, carpentry, and more. This is the sixth annual Signing Day event for the BCPC.
Why The Increase?
There are several reasons for the increased number of job offers in 2024 compared to 2023 and years before that. “There is more work to do, with large and high-profile plant construction projects underway or in the planning stage,” said Aaron Ennis, director of alternate funding and chair of the BCPC Signing Day Committee. “More contract companies are participating than before as Signing Day is a preferred recruiting platform for ‘contractors’ with work inside BCPC member company plants.” Ennis continued, “increased interest in the ‘Career Training Education’ (CTE) programs and a marked increase in attention for careers in the trades are also contributors.
Societal Changes Lead to More Interest
Along with demand because of more available work, high school graduates are alert to jobs like these, where they may not have been before. There are plenty of reasons:
1. Disillusionment with College Education:
- Highlighting the shift among young people away from traditional college paths due to high costs and post-graduation employment uncertainty.
- Statistics indicating colleges with tuition costs up to $100,000 per year contributing to growing student debt burdens.
- Figures on the worsening student debt crisis, with some graduates accumulating debts exceeding $400,000.
- The high costs of college education and the implications for students and society, including debates on loan forgiveness programs.
2. Trade Skills as an Alternative Career Path:
- The appeal of skilled trades like plumbing and electrical work as alternatives to the traditional college education.
- The benefits of on-the-job training but without incurring significant debt in the trade industry.
3. Success of Trade Careers and Apprenticeships:
- Recognition of the value of trades for offering lifetime skills, financial stability, local employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
4. Cultural and Attitudinal Shifts in Career Choices:
- Cultural shift where colleges and universities are seen as one option among many rather than an absolute pathway to success.
- Increasing acceptance and recognition of practical skills and trade careers over the traditional college pathway.
- Advocacy for a more inclusive approach to career education that highlights skilled trades on par with college degrees in high school guidance.
5. Baby Boomers are Leaving the Workforce Creating Demand:
- The exodus of 31 million skilled trade workers in 2020 left a lot of demand for new employees across the trades.
- For every skilled trade worker starting a career, there are five retiring.
6. Remain close to home if wanted:
- Graduating seniors chosen for employment by BCPC related firms can stay close to home as all jobs are in or near Brazoria County, TX.
- On the other hand, the skills for these careers are transferable to other parts of the country, though local license requirements will differ.
More Opportunities
With retirements, increased CTE awareness and opportunities, the chance to go to work right out of high school and earn a living without accruing the debt that a four-year degree may require, it is no wonder that more high school seniors are attracted to programs like ‘Career Signing Day.’ “So many of our graduates receive more than one offer, it is a testament to them for being so well prepared and a signal to others that even though we set a record for job offers again in 2024, some of those will remain unfilled,” Ennis said. “Many opportunities remain.”
Rigorous Application Process
All ‘signees’ have completed requirements for and approved applications to be able to accept job offers. On top of the education each received, all applicants were interviewed by those companies who want to hire candidates for skilled trade jobs. Those BCPC related contract companies conducted over 700 interviews in 4 hours to determine who matched their respective requirements.