While the trend they're talking about may be real, the way they provide evidence for it is sloppy.
> The number of young people seeking technical jobs — like plumbing, building and electrical work — dropped by 49% in 2022 compared to 2020, according to data from online recruiting platform Handshake shared with NPR.
> Researchers from Handshake tracked how the number of applications for technical roles vs. the number of job postings has changed over the last two years.
> While postings for those roles — automotive technicians, equipment installers and respiratory therapists, to name a few — saw about 10 applications each in 2020, they got about five per posting in 2022.
I.e. the evidence is in terms of applications per job posting, but the claim is about the number people seeking jobs. These are not the same. If it's understood that it's a job-seekers market, the same number of job seekers in 2022 could reasonably each have applied to half as many positions each, and be pickier about which postings they pursue.
> The number of young people seeking technical jobs — like plumbing, building and electrical work — dropped by 49% in 2022 compared to 2020, according to data from online recruiting platform Handshake shared with NPR.
> Researchers from Handshake tracked how the number of applications for technical roles vs. the number of job postings has changed over the last two years.
> While postings for those roles — automotive technicians, equipment installers and respiratory therapists, to name a few — saw about 10 applications each in 2020, they got about five per posting in 2022.
I.e. the evidence is in terms of applications per job posting, but the claim is about the number people seeking jobs. These are not the same. If it's understood that it's a job-seekers market, the same number of job seekers in 2022 could reasonably each have applied to half as many positions each, and be pickier about which postings they pursue.