Why Don’t We Celebrate First-Generation Trades Students Like We Do First-Generation University Students?

There’s a familiar storyline in North America: the first-generation university student. Raised in a family with no history of higher education, they overcome barriers, navigate an unfamiliar system, and step into a world their parents never had access to. When they cross the stage at graduation, we cheer. Governments fund programs to support them, universities roll out scholarships, and entire marketing campaigns highlight their achievements. It’s seen as a victory—not just for the student, but for society.

Now consider another first-generation student: someone whose family has never worked in the trades but who decides to become a welder, an electrician, or a millwright. Where’s the celebration? Where are the grants, the congratulatory articles, or the government-funded initiatives? If anything, these students often encounter skepticism—“Are you sure you don’t want to go to university?”—as if they’re stepping down rather than stepping up. At Trade Smart College, we believe it’s time to fix this..

First-Generation University Students: A National Priority

For decades, Canada and the U.S. have made it a priority to get more students from non-university backgrounds into higher education. Governments have poured billions into financial aid, mentorship programs, and recruitment campaigns designed to help first-generation students navigate the complex world of academia. Universities proudly track these numbers, highlighting diversity and inclusion efforts to bring in students whose parents never set foot in a lecture hall.

And rightfully so—education can change lives. A first-generation university student often faces challenges beyond the classroom: lack of family guidance, financial strain, and the pressure of being a pioneer. When they succeed, we recognize their determination and the broader social progress they represent. But for some reason, we don’t extend this same enthusiasm to those blazing a new trail in the trades. The question is: why?

Fifty Years of Steering Students Away from the Trades

Over the past five decades, North America has worked tirelessly to convince young people that university is the only path to success. High school guidance counselors push degrees over diplomas, mass and social media messaging glorifies white-collar professions and “lifestyle jobs” (whatever that is), and well-meaning parents discourage their children from considering trades careers. The result? A dramatic decline in the number of young people entering skilled trades, leading to a workforce shortage that threatens industries from construction to manufacturing.

This campaign to “educate” people out of the trades has been incredibly successful—too successful. A generation was convinced that working with their hands meant settling for less, despite the fact that many skilled trades pay better than careers that require a university degree.. The unintended consequence? We’ve not only hollowed out an entire workforce but also dismantled the traditional ways people entered these careers in the first place.

Family Connections: The Original Entry Point into the Trades

Historically, the trades were a family business. If your father was a carpenter, you had a foot in the door. If your uncle ran an electrical company, you had an apprenticeship waiting. Even outside the family, connections mattered—a neighbor, a family friend, or a mentor could introduce you to the industry and teach you the ropes. I suspect that if you got on well with Lillian Ann Baumbach, the first woman in the United States to receive a plumbing license in 1951,  she might have given you a shot. This system ensured that new generations kept the industry alive, providing a steady flow of skilled, prepared, and reliable workers.

But with a generation steered away from trades, we’ve lost this built-in recruitment pathway. The traditional entry points no longer exist for many young people. If their parents, uncles, and neighbors never worked in the trades, who will introduce them to the career opportunities? We now face a serious problem: a massive demand for skilled workers but no structured way for new people to enter the field. That’s why first-generation trades students are so important—and why we should be celebrating them.

New Pathways and a New Celebration

If we want to revitalize the trades, we need new entry points. We need structured training programs that introduce students—especially those with no family history in the trades—to careers they may never have considered. We need pathways that don’t rely on family connections but instead focus on professional skills, hands-on experience, and direct access to employers. This isn’t just about fixing a labor shortage; it’s about making the industry more inclusive, efficient, and adaptable.

And just as we celebrate first-generation university students, we should be celebrating first-generation trades students. These students are stepping into a world their families never navigated. They’re challenging outdated stigmas and redefining what success looks like. Their accomplishments deserve the same recognition, because they are just as transformative—not just for themselves, but for their communities and the economy as a whole.

Key Takeaways

• First-generation university students are widely celebrated and supported, but first-generation trades students are often overlooked.
• North America has spent 50 years discouraging students from pursuing trades, creating a critical skills gap.
• The trades historically relied on family and personal connections for recruitment, but that system has broken down.
• We need structured pathways to introduce students from all backgrounds to the trades.
• First-generation trades students should be celebrated just as much as first-generation university students.

The Bottom Line: It’s Time to Recognize First-Generation Trades Students

For decades, we’ve championed the first-generation university student, recognizing the courage it takes to enter an unfamiliar world. But the same should be said for first-generation trades students. They, too, are breaking barriers. They, too, are pioneers. And they, too, are essential to our future.

At Trade Smart College, we are building these new pathways—helping students from all backgrounds become prepared, focused, and reliable tradespeople. The skilled trades industry needs them, and society should celebrate them. The only question left is: when will we start?