The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.

For decades, students have heard the same message: Graduate from high school. Go to a four-year college. Earn a degree. Success will follow. For some students, that path is the right choice, but it is not the only path. Increasingly, it is not the path Wisconsin’s workforce needs most.

As lawmakers, educators, parents, and employers discuss the future of education, we should be honest with students about the opportunities available to them. Success does not require a bachelor’s degree. In many cases, some of the most rewarding, stable, and financially successful careers begin with technical education, apprenticeships, and skilled trades training.

According to a recent University of Wisconsin Extension report, Wisconsin has experienced an average of more than 93,000 more job openings than available workers since 2021. Economists now describe Wisconsin’s workforce shortage as one of the greatest barriers to future economic growth.

At the same time, Wisconsin manufacturers continue to identify workforce shortages as their top business concern. Employers are looking for electricians, welders, machinists, HVAC technicians, plumbers, tool and die makers, industrial maintenance technicians, construction workers, and countless other skilled professionals. These are not jobs of the past. They are jobs of the future.

The irony is that many of the industries experiencing the greatest labor shortages are also among the industries offering strong wages, excellent benefits, career advancement opportunities, and the ability to earn while learning without accumulating student debt.

This is why I continue to support apprenticeship in Wisconsin. In our great state, apprenticeship participation has reached record highs for four consecutive years as more young people recognize the value of hands-on career training. Fortunately, the stigma that once surrounded many “blue-collar” professions is beginning to fade. More students and families are recognizing what employers have known for years: skilled trades offer rewarding careers, strong earning potential, and opportunities for advancement.

Consider what is happening in the energy and construction sectors. Demand for electricians continues to grow as Wisconsin expands manufacturing capacity, modernizes infrastructure, develops new energy projects, and prepares for the increasing electricity demands associated with data centers and advanced technologies. Technical colleges around the state are reporting growing enrollment in electrician apprenticeship programs because employers are actively seeking qualified workers.

The same story can be found throughout the skilled trades. These careers cannot be outsourced overseas and they cannot be replaced by an app. They provide tangible value to communities and offer opportunities for entrepreneurship, small business ownership, and family-supporting incomes.

That does not mean college is unimportant. Wisconsin needs engineers, nurses, accountants, teachers, researchers, and countless other professionals who require advanced degrees, but we should stop treating four-year universities as the default destination for every student.

Students deserve honest information about all of their options. That is why I co-sponsored Assembly Bill 166, which was authored by Representative Paul Melotik. The bill would increase transparency by requiring colleges and universities to report data like the average salary of graduates, the cost of attendance, and graduation rate by major.

As Wisconsin continues investing in workforce development, we should strengthen partnerships between employers, technical colleges, apprenticeship programs, and local schools. Students should be exposed to career opportunities in the skilled trades long before high school graduation. They should understand what these careers involve, what they pay, and the opportunities they create.

Too often, our culture sends the message that success is defined by a four-year degree. Wisconsin’s economy tells a different story. In fact, many apprentices begin earning wages immediately while receiving employer-sponsored training. In the time it might have taken to complete a college degree, these tradesmen and women have already accumulated years of experience, avoided significant debt, and established themselves in a growing profession. It is not a lesser path; it is simply a different one.

Every student deserves the opportunity to pursue a path that matches their talents and ambitions. Because success has more than one path. Wisconsin should celebrate all of them.

Knodl, R-Germantown, represents the 24th Assembly District.