Te-Ping Chen

And so for them, there is sort of a double appeal.

And so for them, there is sort of a double appeal.

And so what are some of these companies offering these prospective employees?

And so what are some of these companies offering these prospective employees?

It will range a lot depending on, of course, where in the United States you are, what kind of role we're talking about. Everything is local. But in some cases, the offers that are being made are really substantial. Here in Philadelphia, I spoke with one high school student a Catholic private high school that launched a welding program.

It will range a lot depending on, of course, where in the United States you are, what kind of role we're talking about. Everything is local. But in some cases, the offers that are being made are really substantial. Here in Philadelphia, I spoke with one high school student a Catholic private high school that launched a welding program.

And in recent years, their graduates have just seen incredible demand, job offers that at a minimum would pay $50,000 a year. And in some cases, quite a bit higher. I spoke to one student who is 17 years old, a junior, so not even a senior at this point, but he has already gotten an offer for after he graduates that would pay him $70,000 a year.

And in recent years, their graduates have just seen incredible demand, job offers that at a minimum would pay $50,000 a year. And in some cases, quite a bit higher. I spoke to one student who is 17 years old, a junior, so not even a senior at this point, but he has already gotten an offer for after he graduates that would pay him $70,000 a year.

Many of these companies are offering paid vacation, retirement. One of the benefits for people going into the trades, especially if you're looking at a union job, is there's just a degree of predictability, right?

Many of these companies are offering paid vacation, retirement. One of the benefits for people going into the trades, especially if you're looking at a union job, is there's just a degree of predictability, right?

And especially in a time when there's a lot of uncertainty about AI and the job market more broadly, that's something that students have said is really appealing, the sense that they know what they're going to make. It's written down. It's very clearly contracted in many cases.

And especially in a time when there's a lot of uncertainty about AI and the job market more broadly, that's something that students have said is really appealing, the sense that they know what they're going to make. It's written down. It's very clearly contracted in many cases.

And Teping, what do the students that you spoke to make of all this? Is it working?

And Teping, what do the students that you spoke to make of all this? Is it working?

For the students that have been pursuing these paths, among some of them, just a feeling of incredulity. Like, this is incredible that we are being courted in this fashion, that we have these jobs that pay so well, and in many cases... amongst the students that I was speaking to, more than what their parents maybe would have made.

For the students that have been pursuing these paths, among some of them, just a feeling of incredulity. Like, this is incredible that we are being courted in this fashion, that we have these jobs that pay so well, and in many cases... amongst the students that I was speaking to, more than what their parents maybe would have made.

When they talk to their college-bound peers, there's likewise the sense of, wow, that's pretty extraordinary. And in some cases, even a sense of, I wish I'd known.

When they talk to their college-bound peers, there's likewise the sense of, wow, that's pretty extraordinary. And in some cases, even a sense of, I wish I'd known.

A real change in sentiment, it seems. Teping, thank you so much for bringing us this story. Thank you.

A real change in sentiment, it seems. Teping, thank you so much for bringing us this story. Thank you.