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CHAPTER 2
THE 10 BIGGEST
MYTHS ABOUT THE
SKILLED TRADES
Has anyone ever told you that the skilled trades
are only for people who can’t get into college or
that the skilled trades are only for men?
Over the years, many misconceptions and
myths have come to dominate the conversa-
tion around the skilled trades. These myths
have warped the perception of the trades
among countless parents, guidance coun-
selors, high school educators, and especially
students looking ahead to their futures. The
result is that the trades are often looked down
upon or not viewed as a “serious” career path
in the same way as a career that requires a
four-year college degree might be.
Fortunately, that dialogue has started to
change. In recent years, more awareness about
worker shortages in industries like construc-
tion has begun to create new conversations
around the need to train the next generation
of these skilled workers. At the same time,
rising college costs—coupled with the growing
availability of trade-focused curricula at the
high school level—have started to shift the
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