As college costs continue to rise, more young people are exploring alternative paths to the workforce. Across the country, Generation Z is increasingly turning to trade schools to gain hands-on skills and enter the job market sooner, a shift reflected in the opening of Tulsa Welding School’s new Atlanta Metro campus.
Tulsa Welding School (TWS), operated by StrataTech Education Group, is expanding to metro Atlanta. The Atlanta location, based in Decatur, joins existing campuses in Tulsa, Dallas, Houston, and Jacksonville, expanding the company’s footprint into Georgia’s growing skilled trades market.
“More Gen Zers are skipping college and going straight to alternative education to get to work faster,” StrataTech Education Group said in a press release announcing the campus opening.
The new campus offers programs in welding, HVAC/R and electrical trades, fields that support construction, infrastructure and technical industries across metro Atlanta.
“Atlanta Metro is a hub for opportunity in the skilled trades,” StrataTech CEO Bill Nance said. “As industries across Georgia continue to grow, so does the demand for well-trained professionals.”
Tamekia Morris, president of TWS Atlanta, said the region’s rapid growth made it a strong fit for the school’s continued expansion.
“The metro area right now is experiencing such a strong growth in…construction, infrastructure, and..industries that rely heavily on skilled trades,” Morris said. “Atlanta also has.. a really diverse and growing population for, like, career-focused education and upward mobility.”
The opening of the Atlanta campus brings hands-on skilled trades training closer to students in the metro area while strengthening the local workforce pipeline as the city continues to grow.
Morris said Tulsa Welding School serves a wide range of students, including recent high school graduates and adults seeking a career change.
“For anyone that’s wanting to switch from a traditional college to trade,” Morris said. “The right path depends on their goals… and not just prestige.”
She said the structure of trade school programs appeals to students who want a more direct and skills-focused learning experience.
“We’re in a microwave society. They want everything faster now,” Morris said. “If I can get… from point A to point B faster in seven months… and I still have a great career that can change the trajectory of my life and my family’s life, I’m going to go seven months, opposed to four years.”
Unlike traditional post-secondary education, Tulsa Welding School emphasizes hands-on instruction designed to accelerate students’ entry to the workforce.
“It gets you ready in months to go out there and work, and not years,” Morris said. “So you can start earning faster.”
Skilled trades employment is expected to continue growing over the next decade as demand for trained workers increases across construction, infrastructure, and technical fields. The Atlanta campus is intended to help meet those workforce needs while creating new career pathways for metro area residents.
Morris emphasized that skilled trades education plays a critical role in supporting Atlanta’s continued development.
“Skilled trade education provides the workforce that actually builds and maintains that growth,” she concluded. “Without a trained pipeline, the growth is going to slow.”
Tulsa Welding School Atlanta is currently enrolling students for its first cohort. The initial welding class begins Feb. 16, with enrollment closing Feb. 9. The campus offers flexible scheduling options, including morning and evening classes. For more information about TWS Atlanta or to inquire about enrollment, visit the school’s website.
