University or Trade Schools . . . Which Is Better?

If you haven’t been living under a rock, you may have observed the continuous debate that rages between your blue collar and white collar friends. The Titan has observed this irritating construct and has decided to write a quick but succinct (to-the-point) opinion about this nonsensical fray.

To begin, The Titan believes that too much emphasis is placed on young adults attending university in today’s world. Too many people attend liberal arts universities only to study subjects that literally don’t add any value to private organizations seeking to employ new talent. Without calling out all of the ridiculous majors that exist today, let’s focus on what really matters. What really matters is the big picture. It so happens that “the big picture” requires that we look at actual data so we can see what is going on in the economy, how employees of all educations levels fare, and what conclusions can be drawn (and defended).

Speaking of pictures, the picture below is a popular meme found on many social media sites:

Adam and Chris represent two different classes of society and it seems that these two groups sometimes can’t get along. As it were, The Titan believes this meme is meant to call out and to belittle Adam while making Chris look wise and happy. Indeed, Chris does look happy (just before his major arc-flash incident). In regard to the meme, The Titan is wondering why Chris is wearing a nylon safety vest while working on electrical wiring. No real electrician does this (or should).

Conversely, Adam looks really happy while working on his “Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy”. The Titan can tell you that nobody seeking a degree in philosophy looks like Adam. They look more like Bob Marley (and probably smell like him too). The Titan is also not aware of what a “philosophy job” entails.

So, The Titan believes that perhaps Adam and Chris aren’t real people after-all. The Titan believes that this meme may have been crafted by an apprentice-level control-room operator with a lot of time on his hands (the journeymen dudes are way too old to know how to use a computer).

One half of the debate rests with your blue collar friends. These are folks who are members of the major trades (electricians, boiler makers (aka plumbers), masons (aka concrete block stacky-stacky people), iron workers (shiver), and general trades people (including mechanics – a very special breed). The Titan has worked around, and with, them all.

Generally, The Titan believes that most of these folks are good people just trying to get by. “Getting by” means paying for their enormous houses, massive fifth wheel RVs, numerous diesel trucks (with the 5.9L common rail 6BT), lifted SUVs, numerous side-by-side ATVs, way too many guns, . . . and any other assortment of expensive toys (that require massive amounts of overtime just to break-even every month).

It’s a hard knock life y’all.

The other side of this debate consist of the schlubs who yes, go from high school to University whilst not really understanding that all the while they are spending money on tuition . . . and NOT earning money (because they don’t have a career), their counterpart Chris really is out there racking up the overtime (outside in the 100F degree heat).

So let’s get down to the nitty gritty. What is the reality here? The reality is that some people (like Chris) are cut out to be blue collar workers. Skilled trades people generally speaking are smart hard working folks. The only exception might be those union guys who grieve each other for working too hard (e.g., making the other guy look bad). The Titan thinks those grievance guys drive large lifted trucks for a reason.

Conversely, many people are literally cut out to be accountants, doctors, mathematicians, biologists, or industrial hygienists (again, shiver). Yes, some people are better suited to be teachers, psychologists (aka “the.rapists”), or that cadre of other weirdos known as engineers, architects, and environmental folks. Nobody likes those folks in that last group. Nobody.

Regardless of what you think of the aforementioned professions, you wouldn’t want most of them to fix your car or build you a house. Just the facts here.

Getting back to the reality of things. The facts are in. The more education a person has, the more money that person will make in their career, and the less instability they will have in their work history. These facts come from studying large numbers of employees (you know, like millions of em) across the general economy and specific labor markets. These data are the opposite in value to the mindless anecdote of Adam and Chris (a sample of 2 – probably fictitious people).

The Titan says – take a look for yourself:

So says The Titan.