Trades
News and information for skilled trades like carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC.
High Schools Launch New Skilled Trades Education Initiatives
High schools are launching new skilled trades education initiatives across North America, creating direct pathways to careers for students. These programs address a persistent demand for skilled labor, offering hands-on experience and industry-recognized certifications.
Premiere Builders & Remodeling Expands Bluffton Bathroom Remodeling Services
Premiere Builders & Remodeling has expanded its bathroom remodeling services in Bluffton, citing increased local demand and a focus on maintaining operational standards during its growth.
New Investment Targets Skilled Trades Education as Builders Report Skills Crisis
PPG and the PPG Foundation have committed $10 million to advance skilled trades education, addressing a growing skills crisis in the construction sector. This funding aims to build a future pipeline of talent for critical roles.
BOCES Student Aims to Defend State SkillsUSA Competition Title
Broome-Tioga BOCES student Kaigen Cobb is preparing to defend his state title at the SkillsUSA competition on April 23, 2026. His previous success has already created tangible opportunities for his peers and highlighted the value of career and technical education.
Kenya's Inclusive TVET Commitment Advanced by Award-Winning Private-Sector Model
Swisscontact was recently honored for its role in developing a new private-sector-led TVET curriculum in Kenya, a model that has informed a new national training framework.
New Initiatives Boost Youth Training for High School Students in Skilled Trades
New initiatives are launching globally to boost youth training in skilled trades, addressing labor shortages and offering students practical career pathways. These programs include new funding, hands-on projects, and scholarship opportunities.
GEA and Partners Distribute Start-Up Kits to 481 Tamale Youth
The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) and Mastercard Foundation have provided start-up kits to 481 young people in Tamale, Ghana. This initiative aims to equip new artisans with essential tools, enabling them to launch their careers and businesses.
Top 9 Essential Hand Tools for Apprentice Plumbers Starter Kit
A working plumber's basic kit of nine tools handles 90% of residential service calls.
Top 8 Emerging Technologies Revolutionizing Plumbing
In 2,306 homes, a single smart water shutoff system slashed paid water damage claims by an astonishing 96%, according to Western Rooter .
Top Smart Home Devices for Trades Professionals
A single smart thermostat installation can yield a 40% profit margin for an electrician.
Top 5 Cordless Impact Drivers for Professional Carpenters
In recent independent tests, the Flex 24V ¼-inch hex impact driver edged out Milwaukee's top model by a tenth of a second in RSS screw tests.
AI and robotics won't eliminate skilled trades jobs in 2026.
Demand for robotics technicians has jumped 107% since late 2022, signaling a profound shift in the skilled trades sector.
Mentorship Programs Crucial for Canada's Retiring Tradespeople
By the end of this decade, Canada alone projects 700,000 skilled trades workers will retire, creating a massive void that current training pipelines are struggling to fill.
Mentorship Programs are Key to Bridging the Skilled Trades Gap by 2026
Despite a critical shortage of skilled trades workers, 35 percent of middle and high school parents believe vocational programs are only for 'high-achieving' students, revealing a deep-seated percepti
Skilled trades education is key to Ontario's 2026 economic stability.
Ontario's economy is bleeding $24 billion annually due to a critical shortage of skilled trades workers.
Canada's $6B Skilled Trades Plan Faces Diversity Gap Despite Growth
Canada has committed an unprecedented $6 billion to recruit 80,000 to 100,000 new skilled trades workers, yet women still comprise only 14% of registered apprentices in 2023.
Lowe's: Investing in trades, leveraging AI for efficiency
Lowe's is pouring $250 million into training 250,000 skilled tradespeople over the next decade, a significant investment in human capital.
Beyond the Press Release: Why Large Private Sector Investments Are Crucial for Trades
Lowe's recent $250 million investment to train 250,000 tradespeople is a critical model for how large private sector capital can sustainably address the nation's escalating skilled trades gap, vital for economic growth and infrastructure development.
Lowe's $250M Is a Start, But Government Incentives and Education Reform Must Fix the Skilled Trades Shortage
While corporate investment like the Lowe's Foundation's $250 million is a welcome step, it cannot single-handedly solve the skilled trades shortage; a comprehensive solution requires robust government incentives and fundamental educational reforms.
Modernizing Vocational Training Isn't a Choice; It's an Economic Imperative
The persistent skilled trades gap is a current crisis. Modernizing vocational training and expanding apprenticeships are essential to rebuild the talent pipeline and secure our economic future.
The Trades Are Calling: We Must Innovate Vocational Training and Apprenticeships Now
The future of our national infrastructure hinges on a robust pipeline of skilled trades professionals. To secure it, we must commit to innovating vocational training and apprenticeships now.
High Schools Are Failing Students By Ignoring Vocational Training and Apprenticeships
High schools are failing students by pushing only four-year degrees, ignoring the critical need for vocational training and apprenticeships. This oversight exacerbates the skilled trades gap and leaves students unprepared for lucrative careers.
The Skilled Trades Crisis Has One Obvious Fix We Keep Ignoring
The persistent skilled trades labor shortage demands a renewed focus on vocational training and apprenticeships, the most direct and effective solution we have systematically devalued for decades.
Our Outdated Apprenticeship Programs Are Failing The Next Generation of Trades
To solve the critical skilled trades shortage, we must fundamentally overhaul our approach by modernizing apprenticeship programs. A new framework integrating early education, standardized certifications, and robust public-private partnerships is the only viable path forward.
Vocational Training and Apprenticeships Are the Only Real Fix for the Skilled Trades Gap
The United States faces a widening skilled trades gap, threatening economic stability and critical infrastructure. Reinvesting in vocational training and apprenticeships is the most direct, proven, and sustainable solution to this national crisis.
Progressive Capitalism's Plan for Trades: A Grand Vision Missing a Practical Blueprint
Progressive capitalism presents an ambitious vision for the American economy, but its proposals for skilled trades are a mix of promising goals and frustratingly vague strategies. This article examines the significant gap between political ambition and the realities of running a contracting business or working a job site.
Brad Sugars Connects Personal Branding With Trust at Scale in 2026
Brad Sugars, founder of ActionCOACH, now champions personal branding as a complementary asset to corporate branding, believing it fosters human connection and builds trust at scale. He emphasizes that a founder's visibility and personal insights can create familiarity that a company brand alone cannot.
Google.org Grant Boosts HBI's Skilled Trades Training for Veterans
The Home Builders Institute (HBI) has received a grant from Google.org to significantly expand its skilled trades training programs for transitioning military service members, veterans, military spouses, and their families. This funding will enhance HBI's existing program, increasing training capacity and job placement support to help military-connected individuals transition into civilian careers.
AGC Georgia Skills Challenge Rome Set for Oct. 22, 2026
The next AGC Georgia Skills Challenge is set for October 22, 2026, at The Forum River Center.
Grants Fuel Trades Education, Drawing Next-Gen Workers
Graduates from Pennsylvania College of Technology's trades programs boast a 98% job placement rate and earn 36% more than the national average for federal aid recipients, according to the college.