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Ashley Abercrombie's avatar

Thank you for this deep dive! I am curious if you think that the rhetoric of this administration and their aligned media repetitively discussing trades as a better alternative to college is directly connected to the "renaissance" or if you believe it has more to do with economics and access to opportunities.

Seth Odell's avatar

I think the resurgence of the trades pre-dates the current administration. Depending on how you look at that, for some data on that (from the Martin Center), in 1999 9.6 million students were enrolled in trade schools and by 2014 it had grown to 16 million, so I think this isn't as much a recent trend as a continuing one.

That said, I do think the present administration's focus on it, as well as tone towards degree-granting institutions, is likely going to fuel a potentially larger shift in demand in this area.

Stephanie Geyer's avatar

Seth, I'm not even halfway through and sharing with my team. Thank you for deep and wide perspective. Your voice is essential to our community. Keep going!