Job Hunting Tips for Skilled Trades
Looking for work in the skilled trades may also require that you meet additional training or educational requirements in order to qualify for a position as an apprentice or tradesperson. The demand for individuals entering the workforce in the skilled trades is on the rise. Earnings in several fields (i.e. plumbers, electricians, pipe fitters, mechanics, etc.) are comparable to, if not higher than, salaries for those jobs that require a four-year college degree. Employers across the country are having a difficult time finding qualified candidates to fill these jobs, according to a 2013 Manpower Group Talent Shortage Survey.
Finding a job in the skilled trades requires you to know the job market and where the demand is for the skilled trades training you possess. Tradesman’s groups and organizations can be a valuable source of information for your job hunting efforts. Here are several job hunting tips and careers that you should look into that should aid you in successfully finding and landing the skilled trades job you are looking for.
Research the Job Market
The Internet is a great tool for finding information on jobs. A simple search can provide you with a wealth of information regarding the types of skilled trades jobs available within a certain geographical location. Use this information to determine where the jobs are and if demand for certain skilled workers is greater in your area than it is in another part of the country.
Consider that as of 2012 there were nearly 3 million skilled trades jobs in the United States. Of these jobs, more than half (52.9 percent) are held by individuals age 45 and older. And 20.6 percent of these jobs are held by individuals age 55 and older. Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Delaware have the highest percentage of skilled workers age 45 and older (nearly 60 percent or higher for each state). A third of the skilled trade jobs in the United States (974,962) are in Texas, California, Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
Check with Local Vocational and Technical Education Programs
Employers looking to fill vacancies for skilled jobs often work with their local vocational and career and technical education (CTE) schools. More value is being placed on job readiness and workforce development through CTEs, and the federal government has even gotten into the act through the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (part of the U.S. Department of Education).
One way in which the government is helping develop a skilled labor force, in concert with CTEs and local employers, is through reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. This law permits the infusion of $8 billion into community colleges to train up to 2 million workers for high-growth sector jobs and another $1 billion to help transition certain high school students into the workforce through career academies.
Build on Core Skills
With the funding being made available for skilled work and the amount of attention and focus being placed on meeting the needs of employers that will need to replace an aging workforce, finding a job in the skilled trades requires some effort on your part. If you have a core set of skills in a specific trade and need to supplement them, take advantage of the programs and training opportunities that can help you land a job.
