For the next generation of hands-on workers, it’s an exciting time to be a job seeker in Washington state.

That’s because as many as 740,000 good-paying jobs in the state’s manufacturing sector are open. In central Washington, careers in manufacturing pay typical annual wages of $44,400 to more than $52,000, according to the state Employment Security Department.

Those are jobs that often require a trade certificate or a two-year degree.

Filling all those hands-on jobs means we must rethink not only how we close the skills gap, but also the “interest gap” for the next generation of builders, welders, and makers.

Too often, good-paying career pathways take a backseat to a four-year degree track. The good news is that both tracks—the trades and a bachelor’s degree—can be equally successful.

I recently traveled to Switzerland with the governor and others from across the state to look at the country’s successful and robust apprenticeship programs, which are geared toward engaging 16- to 19-year-olds in meaningful work.

In the Swiss system, young apprentices can shift career paths or seek higher education after earning their initial training diploma. It’s focused on options and opportunities—right after graduation and into the future. I heard from several young people who said they were “finished” with the classroom by ninth grade and eager to work with their hands.

The big-picture goal is to find specific ways to improve Washington’s career pathways.

It’s no secret that we lose some of our next generation of workforce—the teenagers who may not want to go down the four-year college path, but aren’t aware of the alternatives. Rural areas are especially hard hit, losing a disproportionate number of young people to metropolitan areas.

This problem isn’t unique to Washington state, but there are workable solutions that often start with a conversation.

Marty Brown, former executive director for the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, said in a recent Washington Business Magazine profile: “We need to get people talking about the importance of machining, manufacturing and advanced manufacturing, and all of the jobs out there that 10 years ago people didn’t even think about.”

We couldn’t agree more.

We’re moving in the right direction in our K-12 education system with the growing trend of STEM schools. Our community and technical colleges also do a great job of partnering with employers to build the local workforce they need.

But, there is room for growth. We need better support for career and technical education programs in the state budget, for example.

Employers also can be more creative in meeting their workforce needs by implementing apprenticeship, internship, and externship programs that raise career awareness. At our recent Manufacturing Summit, AWB held a panel discussion focused solely on the role apprenticeships play in attracting the next generation to the workplace. This is an incredible growth area for employers and can be a great tool to build a skilled workforce from the ground up.

Most importantly, we must amplify the conversation between employers, parents, teachers, and students, from grade school to high school graduation, about the many rewarding career pathways that await the next generation of designers, builders, and dreamers.

Kris Johnson is the president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s chamber of commerce
and designated manufacturing association.