Section

Trades

News and information for skilled trades like carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC.

A bustling, high-tech data center in Minneapolis contrasted with a dormant traditional industrial construction site, highlighting a market boom in one sector amidst a general slowdown.

Minneapolis data centers boom amid broader industrial slowdown

Construction activity in the greater Twin Cities area declined this spring.

Rick Donovan· Jun 9· 2 min
CPUT graduate Phaphama Ngalimani proudly inspects a wooden furniture piece in his bustling carpentry workshop, showcasing his successful transition to entrepreneurship.

CPUT graduate picks carpentry business over teaching career

Phaphama Ngalimani, a Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) graduate, now earns in one week from his carpentry business what he previously made in three months as a contract teacher, accordin

Rick Donovan· Jun 9· 2 min
Young Alabamians in aviation and construction gear looking towards a bright future, symbolizing opportunities in skilled trades.

Alabama Building Futures: $2,000 for Aviation, Construction

Only 50 Alabama residents will receive a $2,000 scholarship for aviation or construction careers through a new state program.

Rick Donovan· Jun 8· 2 min
A futuristic, illuminated Johnson Space Center campus with advanced spacecraft on launchpads under a twilight sky.

NASA Awards 7 Contracts for Johnson Space Center Upgrades

NASA awarded seven companies contracts totaling up to $300 million for upgrades at its Johnson Space Center.

Rick Donovan· Jun 6· 2 min
Young Fijian vocational graduates looking uncertain about their future employment prospects outside their training institution.

Fiji vocational training: Graduates face job mismatch

Despite over 69,000 learners graduating from Fiji National University's TVET programs between 2019 and 2023, Fiji's youth unemployment hit 15.

Rick Donovan· Jun 4· 2 min
A frozen archival vault with ice crystals on shelves of ancient books and documents, highlighting the importance of freezing for preservation.

Freezing Offers Critical First Step in Archival Preservation

Leaving water-soaked archival materials for just 48 hours in temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit can almost certainly lead to heavy mold growth, making costly restoration nearly impossible.

Rick Donovan· Jun 2· 2 min
Carpenter's hands precisely installing simple, elegant baseboard trim in a bright, modern living room, showcasing craftsmanship and home improvement value.

Mastering Simple Finish Carpentry Rules for 2026 Projects

Custom trim can provide around 70 percent of its cost back when selling a home, making thoughtful carpentry a powerful investment.

Rick Donovan· Jun 2· 2 min
A modern home's entrance featuring a sleek, flush-glazed fiberglass exterior door with large glass panels, enhancing natural light and curb appeal.

How to Choose the Best Exterior Doors for Modern Homes

As interest rates climb, home renovation is now the top choice for homeowners seeking to improve their living spaces without moving, according to Masonite .

Rick Donovan· Jun 2· 2 min
Interior view of Washington Union Station's main hall, showcasing its historic architecture and bustling activity, highlighting the scale of the renovation project.

US DOT Invests $466 Million in Washington Union Station Renovation

A $466 million federal investment was announced for Washington Union Station, a sum poised to kickstart immediate improvements for the historic D.

Rick Donovan· Jun 2· 2 min
The Waterdrop M6H instant hot RO system dispensing purified, steaming water on a modern kitchen countertop.

Waterdrop M6H Review: Instant Hot RO System Delivers Purity

For $359, the Waterdrop M6H promises instant hot, purified water directly from your countertop.

Rick Donovan· Jun 1· 2 min
A premium hibachi grill and an electric water gun displayed in a backyard setting, perfect for Father's Day gifts.

Give Dad the Best Backyard Upgrades for Father's Day

A super-premium hibachi grill, crafted from heavy-gauge steel and weighing 18 pounds, now sits alongside powerful electric water guns as a top Father's Day backyard upgrade.

Rick Donovan· May 31· 2 min
An Amtrak train stopped on a foggy track with the US Capitol building in the distant background, symbolizing proposed funding cuts.

House Bill Proposes Amtrak Funding Cuts, Threatening Service

A House appropriations subcommittee proposes significant cuts to Amtrak's funding for fiscal year 2027.

Rick Donovan· May 30· 2 min
Aerial view of the $164 million Illinois I-80 bridge replacement project over the Des Plaines River, showcasing heavy machinery and ongoing construction.

Illinois Begins $164 Million Project to Replace I-80 Bridges

Illinois has just broken ground on the final phase of a $1.

Rick Donovan· May 30· 2 min
Professionals using advanced AI interfaces in a modern office, symbolizing GISI Consulting Group's growth and technology integration for future hiring.

GISI Consulting Group plans to hire 1,000 by 2026 using AI

GISI Consulting Group plans to hire 1,000 new project managers and leaders by the end of 2026, even as it aims to equip all 10,000 employees with AI tools, according to Construction Dive .

Rick Donovan· May 28· 2 min
A visual representation of the shift in AI policy, contrasting the structured regulation of the Biden era with the less defined approach of the Trump administration.

Trump's Team Scraps Biden's Landmark AI Order Amid Policy Shift

Donald Trump's team quietly called off a landmark Biden-era executive order intended to regulate artificial intelligence this week, just 18 months after its initial signing.

Rick Donovan· May 26· 2 min
A beautifully decorated living room with furniture and decor items on sale during Wayfair's Memorial Day Clearance event.

Wayfair's Massive Memorial Day Clearance on Furniture & Decor

During Wayfair's Memorial Day Clearance, discounts on furniture and decor can reach an astonishing 84 percent off, according to Southern Living .

Rick Donovan· May 24· 2 min
A state-of-the-art electric riding mower working on a large lawn at dusk, with an older gas mower visible in the distance.

Zero Turn, Riding, or Electric Mower: Which is Right?

The Ego Power+ T6 Riding Mower silently tackles a half-acre yard on a single charge, signaling a quiet revolution in lawn care that challenges the roar of traditional gas engines.

Rick Donovan· May 23· 2 min
New York Penn Station exterior at dusk with construction cranes and scaffolding, symbolizing a major renovation project.

Halmar Skanska Partnership to Lead New York Penn Station Renovation

The $8 billion renovation of New York Penn Station, a project discussed for decades, now has a master developer, Penn Transformation Partners.

Rick Donovan· May 22· 2 min
Ranger Leverless Auto Bead Lifter tool automatically lifting the bead of a car tire, showcasing modern tire service automation.

Ranger Leverless Auto Bead Lifter Tool Automates Tire Service

Facing an aging workforce and high turnover, tire service shops can now eliminate the strenuous manual labor of bead lifting.

Rick Donovan· May 21· 2 min
Futuristic New York City subway station with AI-powered trains and autonomous drones, showcasing advanced transit technology.

Eighteen Startups Test New Tech for NY Transit Systems

More than half of the 18 companies selected for New York's latest Transit Tech Lab cohort are deploying AI or autonomous technologies.

Rick Donovan· May 21· 2 min
A modern bridge at sunset, representing the significant increase in federal bridge funding proposed by the BUILD AMERICA 250 Act.

House Committee Introduces BUILD AMERICA 250 Act for Transportation

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee proposes boosting annual bridge funding by $3.

Rick Donovan· May 20· 2 min
Young UK adult working on plumbing and electrical systems, with a subtle AI interface in the background, symbolizing a shift towards skilled trades.

UK sees surge in skilled trades education amid AI fears

Enrollment in UK plumbing and electrical courses surged by 40% last year, according to UK colleges.

Rick Donovan· May 20· 2 min
Diverse group of former white-collar professionals transitioning to skilled trades, working amidst AI infrastructure, symbolizing a new industrial era.

AI prompts white collar workers to switch to skilled trades

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang declared AI is ushering in a new industrial era, making it "a time for electricians, plumbers, iron workers, technicians, and builders," according to MoneyWise .

Rick Donovan· May 18· 2 min
Students actively engaged in hands-on skilled trades demonstrations, including virtual reality welding and house frame building, at the Adelaide Careers Expo.

Adelaide Careers Expo Showcases Skilled Trades Vocational Training

At the Adelaide Careers and Employment Expo, students aren't just browsing brochures.

Rick Donovan· May 10· 2 min
Diverse South African youth learning skilled trades and digital skills at a new, modern TVET college campus.

South Africa Opens New TVET Campus for Skilled Trades

In Mpumalanga Province, the new Gert Sibande TVET College 4IR LAB is now open, directly linking South African youth to future-ready technical skills crucial for the digital economy.

Rick Donovan· May 4· 2 min
A modern vocational training workshop with students looking towards a distant Milwaukee Tool logo, representing future opportunities and delayed grant funding.

Milwaukee Tool announces Bring Back the Trades grants for 2026

Despite urgent national demand for skilled trades workers, Milwaukee Tool's new 'Bring Back the Trades' grant program, offering up to $1,500 in tool kits monthly, won't award grants until April 2026,

Rick Donovan· Apr 15· 2 min
Young competitors intensely focused on their skilled trade tasks at a large vocational competition, showcasing talent and dedication.

Skills Competitions Showcase Vocational Careers in Skilled Trades

In a sprawling 1.79 million square feet at the Georgia World Congress Center, over 6,700 state champions recently converged to compete in 114 skilled and leadership competitions. This event spotlights

Rick Donovan· Apr 14· 2 min
Construction workers operating heavy machinery inside a massive, under-construction data center, highlighting the AI infrastructure boom and demand for specialized trades.

AI infrastructure boom creates specialized construction trades demand

Data center construction recorded a net optimism reading of 57 percent among contractors, even as national nonresidential construction spending slid 1.

Rick Donovan· Jul 19· 3 min
A skilled tradesman performing SMAW welding, with a bright arc and flying sparks joining two heavy metal components in a workshop setting.

SMAW welding: Is it still a tradesman's best bet?

The electric arc in Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) can reach temperatures exceeding 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit, an intense heat that instantly melts metal for a weld.

Rick Donovan· Jun 9· 5 min
Students in a vocational training workshop look confused while trying to operate advanced robotic arms and AI machinery, symbolizing the growing skills gap.

Vocational Training Struggles with Tech Amidst Skills Chasm

By 2030, 2.1 million skilled trade jobs are projected to remain unfilled, a deficit that could cost the economy $1 trillion annually, even as AI and robots begin to reshape these very roles. This stag

Rick Donovan· May 10· 4 min