The times when the only way to make it career-wise in America was by attending college have long passed. Economic trends have changed and white-collar jobs are gradually being replaced by the traditional blue-collar jobs.
Subsequently, vocational education has gained popularity because the majority of the people are looking for job-related skills. People have realized that it is easy to get a decent job when they have technical skills because that is what is highly demanded in various industries in the country.
Recent studies show that vocational education is a key pillar in the American Economy. The country needs critical thinkers, innovators and other technical experts to grow its economy in a sustainable way.
The number of people with college and university education is already quite high in the country and it is not possible for the local industries to absorb all of them. However, there is a shortage of people with technical skills and some local industries are forced to source such skills internationally.
Vocational Skills are Essential for Economic Growth
It is irrefutable that vocational education contributes significantly to economic growth. The number of people working as technicians in different industries in the country have grown tremendously. Vocational education gives people an opportunity to specialize in skills that are highly demanded in the job market.
It is, therefore, easy to secure a job or become self-employed by offering technical services. For instance, a small manufacturing company may require one manager and several technical workers. Vocational education grows the economy of the country because it empowers people with skills that are required in the local industries.
People who go to vocational institutions are empowered with skills that are highly demanded in the job market and they are able to fill labor gaps in the country. Consequently, the country becomes more productive without relying heavily on workers coming from other countries.
Additionally, monies that local companies use to pay foreign technical workers are paid to local workers, and thus is mostly spent within the country.
Integrating immigrants with Vocational Education
Majority of immigrants in the United States lack a college education and it is difficult for them to get white-collar jobs, and lots of them still work without a visa.
The rate of unemployment is highest among the immigrants and most of them cannot afford quality life. However, it is possible to change the lives of immigrants in the country through vocational education.
Vocation training can be used to promote immigrant inclusion to reduce the rate of unemployment and poverty in the country. Vocational training does not require high expenses and it takes less time to complete a given course and become an expert in a certain field.
The lives of immigrants in the country can be improved by empowering them with technical skills so that they can be able to secure jobs with good conditions and privileges and be able to get an immigration visa more easily.
That way, immigrants become contributors to the economic growth instead of a burden. More so, vocational training makes it easy for immigrants to acquire work visa and residency in the USA.
Vocational Training Options
Vocation training has grown over time and currently people are only taught skills that are demanded in the job market. There are various vocational courses to choose from, depending on individual talent, tastes and preferences but it all depends on what you want to pursue. It is easy to evaluate the job market trends to identify skills that are highly demanded when choosing a course.
That way, it becomes easy for a person to secure an internship while still being trained and find a decent job after completing the course. Some of the highly demanded vocational courses include tailoring, locksmith, electrician, masonry, and plumbing among others. The above vocational courses are highly marketable in the job market and a person can even become self-employed.
For instance, locksmithing is an example of a vocational course that has been under-valued for many years. However, trends have changed and it is currently among the most marketable career courses in the country.
A large number of people earn their income by working as locksmiths. The building and construction sectors are growing rapidly and the demand for locksmiths is expected to keep rising.
Currently, locksmiths are not just lock and key repairers but experts who manage electronic security systems in homes, commercial businesses and public facilities.
Conclusion
In general, vocational education drives the economy of the country by empowering people to be more innovative and critical thinkers. Technical skills are required in various industries of a country. Therefore, people with technical skills contribute significantly to the growth of the economy. Vocational training also helps in reducing the rate of unemployment and poverty rates.
