TIME FOR THE TRADES | VIRTUAL DISCUSSION

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The purpose of education is to ensure that we have a skilled workforce and engaged citizenry to keep our economy, communities, and families healthy and productive. While the benefits of college are already widely known, success in our economy and society isn’t limited to the attainment of a four-year college degree. Career and technical education continues to surface as a tested strategy to engage students in their learning and prepare them for postsecondary education and the complex world of the 21st Century.
 

Apprenticeship Search

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PA CareerLink Apprenticeship Program For Employers

The Pre-Apprentice and Apprenticeship Grant Program is a statewide program which offers assistance to registered apprenticeship programs. The program's goal is to increase apprenticeship availability to Pennsylvania employers to assist them with their talent recruitement and development.

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Find an apprenticeship on PA CareerLink - Job Seekers

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Apprenticeship.gov - Job Seekers 

Today, the main problem manufacturers and construction companies face is meeting with customer demand. The labor shortage prevents companies in these industries from keeping up with the needs and wants of their own customers.  In industries such as manufacturing this problem is particularly pronounced, as the older work force that possessed the right skills is retiring, while the younger generation has shunned careers in this sector. The major force behind this has to do with misconceptions of what a career in skilled labor looks like.

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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts rapid growth for several skilled trade jobs over the next few years. Construction laborer jobs should increase by 13 percent between 2016 and 2026, which is faster than average growth.  For plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, the growth rate prediction is 16 percent, which is much faster than average. Other skilled trades show high growth rates as well.