Input Stories

High schools across the U.S. are reinvesting in shop classes, as students become increasingly interested in hands-on careers in manufacturing, construction and related industries (The Wall Street Journal, subscription).

In the classroom: “In a suburb of Madison, Wis., Middleton High School completed a $90 million campus overhaul in 2022 that included new technical-education facilities. The school’s shop classes, for years tucked away in a back corridor, are now on display. Fishbowl-style glass walls show off the new manufacturing lab, equipped with computer-controlled machine tools and robotic arms.”

• Out of the 2,300 students at Middleton, nearly one-quarter are taking classes in construction, manufacturing or woodworking.
• Meanwhile, across the entire state of Wisconsin, “32,000 high-school students took classes in architecture and construction during the 2022–2023 school year, a 10% increase over the prior year, state data show; 36,000 enrolled in manufacturing courses, a 13% increase over the same period.”

The big picture: As the white-collar job market remains tepid, and higher education costs continue to rise, more young people are heading into manufacturing, construction and other hands-on careers.

• “‘The trades are just more valued these days,’ said [Oregon shop class teacher Josh] Gary, noting that class valedictorians have taken his classes. ‘Electricians and plumbers make great money, and some of our higher-end students see that.’”

Manufacturers’ opportunity: With more than 460,000 open jobs in the industry as of January 2025, and as many as 3.8 million additional employees needed by 2038, manufacturers must take advantage of this rising interest.

• The newest initiative from the Manufacturing Institute (the NAM’s workforce development and education affiliate), a gamified experience called Innovators Quest, helps manufacturers engage with students in school, at camp and during community events. If you are looking to introduce more young people to the industry—and have fun while doing so—check it out here.
• The MI is also a leading force behind the nationwide change in attitudes toward manufacturing, through campaigns such as MFG Day. (To get a head start on planning a facility visit for local students, parents and educators this October, check out these MFG Day resources. And don’t forget to sign up for our April 3 webinar on planning events.)

AI in the mix: While the news that more students are seeking out shop classes should be music to manufacturers’ ears, industry leaders are also working to prepare the next generation for careers that will be both hands-on and AI-enhanced.

• According to a survey by the Manufacturing Leadership Council, the NAM’s digital transformation division, manufacturers are increasingly using artificial intelligence on shop floors, using it to improve efficiency, safety, sustainability and much more.

The last word: Andres Mendoza Alcala, a Middleton High School senior, summed up the change in perceptions he has been seeing: “I haven’t met a single person [who] looks down on someone else, just because they’re doing the trades instead of college… They just say it’s a good choice.”