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High School Graduates Receive a Record Number of Job Offers for Careers in the Skilled Trades

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From Coatings Pro Industry News

Members of the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council (BCPC) and their allied contract companies offered a record 155 full time jobs in the skilled trades to over 100 graduating seniors with additional offers to come later this month. This compared to 79 students who signed in 2023.

Career Signing Day

All offers will be formalized on ‘Signing Day,’ April 23, 2024, at the Dow Academic Center on the campus of Brazosport College, located in Clute, Texas. Brazoria County, Texas is directly south of Houston, TX. These jobs include welding, pipefitting, millwright, ironworking, electrical, instrumentation, HVAC, carpentry, and more. This is the sixth annual Signing Day event for the BCPC.

Why The Increase?

There are several reasons for the increased number of job offers in 2024 compared to 2023 and years before that. “There is more work to do, with large and high-profile plant construction projects underway or in the planning stage,” said Aaron Ennis, director of alternate funding and chair of the BCPC Signing Day Committee. “More contract companies are participating than before as Signing Day is a preferred recruiting platform for ‘contractors’ with work inside BCPC member company plants.” Ennis continued, “increased interest in the ‘Career Training Education’ (CTE) programs and a marked increase in attention for careers in the trades are also contributors.

Societal Changes Lead to More Interest

Along with demand because of more available work, high school graduates are alert to jobs like these, where they may not have been before. There are plenty of reasons:

1. Disillusionment with College Education:
  • Highlighting the shift among young people away from traditional college paths due to high costs and post-graduation employment uncertainty.
  • Statistics indicating colleges with tuition costs up to $100,000 per year contributing to growing student debt burdens.
  • Figures on the worsening student debt crisis, with some graduates accumulating debts exceeding $400,000.
  • The high costs of college education and the implications for students and society, including debates on loan forgiveness programs.
2. Trade Skills as an Alternative Career Path:
  • The appeal of skilled trades like plumbing and electrical work as alternatives to the traditional college education.
  • The benefits of on-the-job training but without incurring significant debt in the trade industry.
3. Success of Trade Careers and Apprenticeships:
  • Recognition of the value of trades for offering lifetime skills, financial stability, local employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
4. Cultural and Attitudinal Shifts in Career Choices:
  • Cultural shift where colleges and universities are seen as one option among many rather than an absolute pathway to success.
  • Increasing acceptance and recognition of practical skills and trade careers over the traditional college pathway.
  • Advocacy for a more inclusive approach to career education that highlights skilled trades on par with college degrees in high school guidance.
5. Baby Boomers are Leaving the Workforce Creating Demand:
  • The exodus of 31 million skilled trade workers in 2020 left a lot of demand for new employees across the trades.
  • For every skilled trade worker starting a career, there are five retiring.
6. Remain close to home if wanted:
  • Graduating seniors chosen for employment by BCPC related firms can stay close to home as all jobs are in or near Brazoria County, TX.
  • On the other hand, the skills for these careers are transferable to other parts of the country, though local license requirements will differ.

More Opportunities

With retirements, increased CTE awareness and opportunities, the chance to go to work right out of high school and earn a living without accruing the debt that a four-year degree may require, it is no wonder that more high school seniors are attracted to programs like ‘Career Signing Day.’ “So many of our graduates receive more than one offer, it is a testament to them for being so well prepared and a signal to others that even though we set a record for job offers again in 2024, some of those will remain unfilled,” Ennis said. “Many opportunities remain.”

Rigorous Application Process

All ‘signees’ have completed requirements for and approved applications to be able to accept job offers. On top of the education each received, all applicants were interviewed by those companies who want to hire candidates for skilled trade jobs. Those BCPC related contract companies conducted over 700 interviews in 4 hours to determine who matched their respective requirements.

Fox & Friends Talks Live About the BCPC Signing Day 2023

Posted on by bcpetrocouncil

Early Monday May 1, 2023 Aaron Ennis, Workforce Development chair along with Jax Lawson of Brazosport High School and Ashley Shugart of Columbia High School spoke live with Fox & Friends host Steve Doucey about ‘Signing Day.’ This was the first, live, nationwide television interview about Signing Day in its 5 year history.

While the interview was just over 4 minutes long, it took many hours over several days for Aaron, Jax and Ashley to prepare. Fitting specific ideas and messages into a tight timeframe is challenging for anyone. All three arrived before dark that Monday morning knowing what their messages were, how to deliver them while considering what the host and people watching wanted to know more about. It was great and all three were terrific.

Follow this link to watch the full interview:

 Fox & Friends Interview on BCPC Signing Day 2023

Third BCPC signing day ‘only the beginning’

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A record number of applicants, scholarships and jobs at the 2021 Signing Day.

From The Facts newspaper May 18, 2021.

CLUTE — Third BCPC Signing Day only the beginning. Josiah Hogan and his family were excited for him to sign with the Wood Group.                                                                                                                         

“Just the opportunities that he’ll have,” mom Trina Hogan said.

They know he’ll do great, dad Ron said.

Josiah Hogan was one of eight graduating seniors to sign with the consulting and engineering company at its Clute office during the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council’s third annual Signing Day on May 10.

“This year we were able to have a record of 38 students that applied for the signing day through our county, and we were fortunate enough that we were able to find 19 of them jobs,” said Aaron Ennis, co-chair of the council’s workforce development committee and chairman of the signing day outreach. “The other 19 — they’re still on our list when companies call.”

Brazoswood High School’s Ivan Echartea signs with the Wood Group during Brazoria County Petrochemical Council’s Signing Day on May 10, 2021. Photo credit The Facts/Prentice C. James Special to the facts.

Unable to have the traditional large gathering because of COVID-19, this year’s Signing Day took place at several companies throughout the day and culminated in a virtual Zoom program in the evening incorporating a handful of speakers, including company representatives and Kelley Cope from Associated Builders and Contractors.

Eight students were awarded $1,000 scholarships from Associated Builders and Contractors to attend Brazosport College and continue craft training, Cope said.

Each of the 38 students who applied for Signing Day were guaranteed two interviews, and every student did an excellent job, Turner Industries Workforce Development Manager Carla Thompson said.

“There wasn’t a student I talked to over the last couple of weeks that didn’t impress me, and what I want you to know is, we wish we could hire all of you,” she said.

Turner urged them to continue learning and to continue checking in for new job opportunities.

“A lot of us have jobs that are gonna come up this summer,” she said. “Call all the companies that are part of this Signing Day, keep track of who they are, call their hiring offices a couple times a week and harass the daylights out of them.”

State Rep. Cody Vasut, R-Angleton, was scheduled to address attendees as well, but the House was still in session and he was unable to participate.

Participating organizations included BASF, Contech Services, Dow, KCG Industrial, Norrell, Olin, Phillips 66, Top Coat, Turner Industries, Wood and Zachry, said Jessie Jennings, director of career and technical education for Brazosport ISD.

“At least one or more students from each school was able to sign on with these organizations,” Jennings said. “I love the way it shook out to where each school is represented tonight.”

Each student who signed on with a company May 10 will start work as early as the summer. They’ll make good money, have good benefits and build connections — and ultimately have a future in local industry, Ennis said.

The future is bright for CTE and for industry in Brazoria County, too.

“Next year will also be a record year,” he said. “I can go on record and say that now, with the pace we’re moving, this event will only continue to grow up and down the Gulf Coast.”

Before closing the presentation, Ennis congratulated the signees and encouraged them to have the courage to be a beginner.

“Everyone on this call at one point or another, I can guarantee you, has been a beginner,” he said. “Sooner or later you won’t be a beginner, and you’ll be passing around your knowledge to other people. … If you continue to have courage and embrace being a beginner, it isn’t the end. Third BCPC Signing Day only the beginning. It’s only the beginning.”

Corinna Richardson is the content editor for The Facts. Contact her at 979-237-0150.