Chris Nelson is the president and CEO of Stanley Black & Decker. Opinions are the author’s own.
As America approaches its 250th birthday, a rewarding career is being redefined for future generations.
Our future technological, energy and commercial leadership all depend on creating workforce pathways to embrace, grow and sustain skilled trades. These jobs offer high earning potential and a 90% job satisfaction rate, according to Angi. Collaborations and partnerships between public and private entities are critical to the success of a strong skilled trades workforce.
Fortunately, strong collaborations are already underway.
The origin of the skilled trades comeback story is well documented by recent data projecting future shortages of skilled tradespeople. Over the next decade, America’s industries are projected to face critical worker shortages: 650,000 construction and extraction job openings are projected each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Tackling this shortage of tradespeople requires three fundamental shifts in how we approach the trades: access, capacity and attitude. Access has historically been impeded by a lack of funding opportunities for students to enter the trades. Capacity is impacted by limited seats and resources, ranging from tools to funds, in available trade schools. Attitude in culture continues to elevate professional service occupations over careers in building things.
That’s about to change.
Beginning Wednesday, students will be eligible to apply for Pell Grants to help fund their trade career and technical education programs. This is a welcome expansion beyond the current rules which limit the funding to traditional, four-year universities and colleges. These funds may now cover welding certificates, HVAC training and other high-demand industries.
This change marks an important and critical shift in how our country values post-high school education, recognizing skills-based learning is as important to our economy as a traditional four-year degree, while breaking down barriers to entry facing skilled trades. Simply put, it’s an investment in the future American workforce, and for my industry, this is a potential game changer.
America’s economic success over the next 250 years will depend on technological, energy and commercial leadership that can only be achieved through the strong foundation of our tradespeople. The foresight from this Congress and this administration to open federal programs to tradespeople will certainly unlock a stronger pipeline of skilled workers and builders.
It is my hope, and expectation, that this change will also spark even greater excitement and celebration for the students who choose a career in the trades. The opportunity to encourage and support this future generation is something we cannot afford to let slip away.
