Tampa Bay area businesses that employ skilled trades workers, such as most of the construction industry, have been relatively unaffected by the recession and September 11. That has translated into a strong job market. For example, Construction Contractor Services (CCS), a placement company, has openings for skilled workers, but will also consider unskilled workers who want to learn a trade. Similarly, Acclaim Cabinets, which manufactures and distributes cabinets, is prepared to reassign unskilled workers, such as in the warehouse, to learn skilled jobs on slower days.

Trades can also be learned during high school, such as at the Tampa Bay Technical Institute, or in college, such as at Hillsborough Community College. Labor unions and trade associations often offer apprenticeships.

While CCS pays $7 an hour and Acclaim pays $12 for unskilled laborers, skilled workers earn $20-22 an hour at CCS and $15-16 at Acclaim. Joseph Narkiewicz, the executive vice president of the Builders Association of Greater Tampa states, " In three or four years, someone coming out of high school could easily be earning as much as a college graduate. And they wouldn't have the debt and the expenses of going to college. In fact, they could be earning money instead of spending it for those four years.

(Updated October 10, 2002)