College enrollment in the 2000s and beyond far exceeds enrollment averages in decades past. Despite a higher educated workforce, many graduates have entered an underperforming economy.
A Lack of Opportunity For College Graduates
In 2015, the unemployment rate for college graduates was 7.2%, up from 5.5% in 2007, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Comparatively, the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ unemployment rate stands at 4.9%.
While many college graduates struggle to find a job, even more end up working jobs for which they’re overqualified. The underemployment rate for college graduates was 14.9% in 2015, an increase from 2007’s 9.6%. Underemployment refers to when high skill workers have low skill jobs, such as someone with a Bachelor’s degree working as a cashier.
Truck Driving Schools As An Alternative
As many college graduates encounter lackluster job opportunities, many people are considering trade school as an alternative to pursuing a professional degree. One trade school, National Tractor Trailer School (NTTS) trains students for in demand careers. NTTS is a truck driver training school, equipping its students with the knowledge and skills to earn a commercial driver’s license (CDL), preparing them for a career in the truck driving industry.
Prospects for Graduates of Truck Driving Schools
While unemployment for college graduates is above the national unemployment rate, the truck driving industry is rushing to hire more drivers. The truck driving industry is experiencing a shortage in drivers, according to an Oct. 9, 2015 CNN Money report.
In addition to NTTS graduates having improved opportunities, wages in the truck driving industry are on the rise. Truck driver pay is increasing at a rate of 8% to 12% each year, according to the aforementioned CNN Money report. Comparatively, wages for U.S. workers in general have been stagnant for decades when adjusted for inflation, according to a study by the Pew Research Center.
As well as grooming potential participants in a growing industry, NTTS helps their students with career placement assistance. The school has established partnerships with several major trucking companies. One of NTTS’ partnering companies, H.O. Wolding, credits their success to NTTS.
“We need schools like NTTS to keep us in business,” said H.O. Wolding Driver Trainer and Recruiter Garry Smith. “Without the schools we’d struggle to find enough people to drive our trucks.”
As well as supplying the trucking industry with qualified applicants, NTTS has built a quality reputation. “The students that come out of NTTS, they are trained,” said Robert Lingyak, a Driver Recruiter for Gypsum Express. “The quality that comes out of them is very good. They know how to handle the equipment.”
Using The Web To Its Full Potential
As NTTS has prepared students to reach their full potential in the trucking industry, ACS has helped over 200 clients use the web to its full potential.