re: What are the best trades to get into today?

I work in heavy commercial construction. There is a big down turn in available manpower and experienced manpower since 2000. Plumbers/pipe fitters/welders/HVAC techs I have seen the veterans retire in numbers with few filling the ranks.

Issue is no many leaving high school want to work a blue collar career. They are all told “go to college”. Problem is not everyone is college material.

5 years of apprenticeship and you are making nearly $30/hr on the check plus health insurance and pension or traditional avenues with 401k and health insurance packages. Plus overtime opportunities

And I have seen a number of promotions from up and coming field guys to estimator/project manager positions.