It is no secret that fewer people are choosing the trades as a career path. Many high schools have cut shop classes, and guidance counselors often ignore the option of working with your hands as a career choice.
Let's face it, at some point, people started to look down on getting their hands dirty to do an honest day's work. In 1924, the American Standard Fixture Company created a poster titled, "The Plumber Protects the Health of Our Nation." The poster depicted a plumber standing proudly on top of a pedestal with a lead melting pot and a ladle at his feet. There is a sea of people standing below the plumber, all looking up to him in awe.
The average person looking at the poster might think it is silly and maybe give plumbers too much credit. Besides, many of us grew up hearing people make jokes about plumbers' pants falling down when they bend over to work. I think that may be part of the problem.
For too long, our country has taken for granted the men and women who keep our drinking water clean and direct our sewage away from where we live. Similarly, people often don't consider their HVAC system until the heat goes out in the winter or the cooling fails in the middle of summer. These jobs, along with all the other skilled trades, are noble careers. These are the people who built and continue to build our country.
Creating a National Stage
American Standard's poster championed the contractor. It showed appreciation and worth, giving plumbers a sense of professional pride. The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Contractors Association (PHCC), along with SkillsUSA, is bringing back that sense of accomplishment by creating young champions in a national competition.
PHCC is an association that promotes education, advocates for contractors, and promotes best practices and safety with industry standards. PHCC sponsored the SkillsUSA national plumbing competition that was held in Atlanta this year.
The competition attracted the best technicians from around the country to compete in 114 disciplines over two days. PHCC's goal is to provide a national platform to foster interest in trades, thereby helping to address the skilled trades shortage.
I had the privilege of interviewing Thomas Larsen, who studied at Davis Technical College in Utah, and Grant Parker, who studied at Liberty University in Virginia. Both young men competed in this year's SkillsUSA national competition.
Thomas Larsen – 2nd Place in Post-Secondary
Larsen realized at a relatively young age that he enjoyed working with his hands and creating things. After high school, he pursued a college education and quickly realized he wasn't happy. He decided to change his career path and went into the trades, quickly realizing he had made a good decision.
Larsen was raised to do any job to the best of his ability and has an extreme hunger for knowledge. These traits were key to his success in the competition. I asked him if, at any point, he thought he would win the competition. He said, "I never really felt that I had a better shot than anyone else. The competition all worked at a high and efficient level." His humble response shows how much respect he had for his competition.
Larsen told me that he thinks it is essential for high schools to do a better job of communicating the option of working in the trades. He emphasized the need for a shift in our overall mindset, addressing the negative perception of getting our hands dirty. Building something with your hands and working hard can be extremely rewarding. He said he realized there are many opportunities to have a successful and respected career. His goal is for a welding certification, and he hopes to find a position that requires travel.
Grant Parker – 3rd Place in Post-Secondary
Unlike Larsen, Parker didn't realize that he enjoyed working with his hands until after high school. He took some time off from college to work and save money, but realized he truly enjoyed what he initially thought of as a temporary job. He was able to experience something new every day, which kept his work exciting. Parker grew up looking up to his father, who is a millwright foreman for Georgia Pacific. Parker's father played a crucial role in guiding him on what trades he thought might be a good fit.
Unfortunately, Parker told me that, at times, it seems like he is looked down on for being in the trades. However, that doesn't stop him from taking pride in his craft while working his new construction job. He strives to continue improving his skills and hopes to one day become a project manager or foreman so he can coordinate projects and help direct his team.
Parker shared some advice for younger people considering the trades. He said, "Give it a chance. If it isn't for you, you can always do something else." For him, the trades proved to be rewarding. Parker also said, "If you are considering entering the SkillsUSA competition, give it a shot. What do you have to lose?" He enjoyed the overall experience and appreciated how kind the judges were. They made him feel accepted and were extremely encouraging as they helped guide the participants to make the correct decisions.
Keeping the Spotlight on Skilled Hands
Nearly a century after American Standard's poster celebrated the plumber in its advertisement, organizations like PHCC and SkillsUSA continue this legacy. Larsen and Parker probably will not be featured on plumbing posters anytime soon, but on the competition floor, they represented the very best of what the trades have to offer.
How much are we as the HVAC industry doing to raise the level of awareness about our skilled trade? Each of us has a role in elevating our craft to show the country the pride, skill, and dedication required. We should keep telling these stories and celebrate what we do. Maybe one day, every young person will see the trades not as a fallback, but as a stage worthy of champions.
About the Author
Adam Mufich
content developer and instructor
Adam Mufich serves the HVAC industry as content developer and instructor for National Comfort Institute, Inc. (NCI). NCI specializes in training that focuses on improving, measuring, and verifying HVAC and Building Performance. Find them at www.nationalcomfortinstitute.com.