There’s a constant tension in our politics and in young people’s lives. It sits between the skilled trades and a four-year college degree.

College is largely seen as the natural next step for a young teen graduating high school. But in the last few years, college has gotten more expensive, college graduates struggle to get entry positions, all while an aging workforce among the skilled trades offers more opportunity.  

So now, many are wondering: What kinds of jobs should we prioritize for younger people? And what kinds of investments should we be making in training tradesworkers? 

Ryan Bennett, president of multiple trades organizations — including the West Michigan Building Trades and the Michigan Pipe Trades — joined The Metro live during the Mackinac Policy Conference on Thursday to talk about skilled trades opportunities in the state.

"I was from that generation where you were taught that if you wanted to be successful in life you had to go to a four-year institution," he said. "You had to get a degree, you had to get one of those jobs that were going to be more white-collar in order to be deemed successful by all of the teachers and all of the counselors that prepped you your entire high school career."

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