While other sectors of higher education are seeing fewer students registering for classes, trade programs are seeing higher enrollment, the Associated Press reports. Overall enrollment declined 7.8% at public two-year colleges and 3.4% at public four-year institutions from 2021 to 2022, but during that same period, enrollment in construction trade programs increased by 19.3%.
While other sectors saw slowdowns and layoffs during the pandemic, essential jobs in the construction industry were, and still are, in high demand, and young adults are ready to fill those gaps.
In Tennessee, the state’s overall community college enrollment took a hit during the pandemic, despite a 2015 state program that made community college tuition free. But at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, a network of 24 colleges that offers training for 70 occupations, many trade programs have continued to grow. At TCAT Nashville, several programs have waiting lists, and the college has added night classes to meet demand, said Nathan Garrett, president of the college.
TCAT focuses on training students for jobs that are in demand in the region, which appeals to many students in normal times, but Garrett said the pandemic may have underscored the need for workforce relevance.