So, you want to go into a trade? Here are some things to know.

The school year has started and fall is officially underway. While autumn in New England is just as magical as summer, our mindsets shift to parts of our lives other than, “Do I have enough SPF 30 in my beach bag?” For some who have seniors or juniors in high school, the thoughts may turn to college and important life choices for our children.

For years, those of us running construction-related companies tend to wonder, “Where have all the young men and women who are the future of the industry gone?” This has been our lament for many years: not enough young people are coming into the trades to be trained and become tomorrow’s skilled workers. That is slowly changing, and parents and younger students/workers are starting to pay attention.

One could write a book on the root causes of this shift. You can’t look past the pandemic as one of the leading causes of people rethinking a four-year degree — add to that the ever-increasing cost of higher education, and you have a perfect storm for a shift in career choices. I came across this statistic from North American Trade Schools the other day:

“Student loan debt in the U.S. now exceeds $1.8 trillion. The average borrower carries more than $43,000 in student loan debt … The trades, meanwhile, can’t find enough workers to keep up with demand.”

This was a bit sobering to read. Add the fear of AI replacing entry-level workers in various industries, and it is no surprise that we have seen a shift in career choices. In an ironic twist, the demand for construction workers, electricians, and HVAC techs has soared with the need to build the data centers that are powering AI. The projected shortage of skilled trades is so acute that investment firm Black Rock pledged $100 million to support the training of skilled trades this year.

So where should parents or students turn to if they want to consider the trades as a career path?

Trade schools

This is the time-tested route. A trade school could be something a student takes advantage of while still in high school. If a technical or vocational school is part of the public school system, there is no tuition outside of some fees for specialized clothing or equipment. If a student takes this route, they could walk into a job right after high school with zero debt, jump into an apprenticeship role, and start working their way up the ranks.

Another trade school route is a for-profit training academy that one would enter after high school. These schools do charge a tuition for typically a two-year program depending on the skill set students are learning. While there is a cost associated with this, the amount is often manageable, and students would be working within two years, not four. Do your homework on these; not all for-profit trade schools are created equally.

Trade unions

This route has a lot of appeal for those worried about carrying any debt. You can “earn as you learn” as the saying goes. In a trade union, members start at the bottom and get hands-on training while also taking classes for a particular skill set. Pay increases as they move along and gain experience. Because they are working within the union, they will get a benefit package along with a paycheck.

Private construction companies

For students with no vocational training or desire to join a union, simply applying to companies looking for apprentices is always an option. This is more common in the carpentry end of things, but not unheard of in some of the other fields. There is an acute shortage of carpenters in this country, and jobs are plentiful for those who want to put in the time and energy to learn. This route is similar to that of unions, but far less structured. The pay and benefit packages will vary from company to company. The well-respected trade group PRO New England sponsors and hosts a career day for students considering jumping right into the trades. This year’s is on Oct. 14.

This article is most definitely not intended to dissuade anyone who has a dream of pursuing a four-year degree and the college experience. It is all to say that students today have options in this ever-changing economy. In much of the world, apprenticeship programs are an honor that many people aspire to achieve. It seems we here in this country are finally catching up and recognizing the importance of a robust workforce in the skilled trades.

Mark Philben is the project development manager at Charlie Allen Renovations in Cambridge. Send your questions to [email protected]. Questions are subject to editing. Subscribe to the Globe’s free real estate newsletter — our weekly digest on buying, selling, and design — at Boston.com/address-newsletter.