Skilled Trades Day

City Machine's day dedicated to the trades is approaching in May

Throughout the United States, many businesses face a dilemma – there are more skilled trades job openings than there are people to fill them. According to Forbes, over 53% of workers employed in a skilled trade are nearing retirement age. Compare that to the fact that only 1 in 5 students graduating from high school have shown an interest in trade jobs, and you can see why employers are having trouble finding workers. City Machine Technologies of Youngstown, Ohio is one of many businesses that wants to change that.

City Machine Technologies, Inc. is currently facing a labor shortage; mechanically inclined workers are becoming harder and harder to find. But they’re not alone – 62% of employers representing the trade industry have reported struggling to find individuals to fill important skilled trade positions. This has raised many concerns about the future employment levels of the trades as a whole. In an effort to celebrate and shed a positive light on skilled trades jobs, CMT established National Skilled Trades Day.

National Skilled Trades Day aims to raise awareness about the benefit of skilled trades jobs in the United States. Over the last 30 years or so, parents have encouraged children to attend colleges or universities after graduating from high school, neglecting to embrace the value found in skilled trades. When these students graduate from college, they are often faced with crippling debt and a job market that simply isn’t hiring. On the other hand, trades jobs often only require a certificate for employment, meaning that those looking to go into trade jobs will face little to no debt when they enter the workforce, and they can enter the workforce much sooner than their college student counterparts. Skilled trade jobs often offer excellent pay as a means to meet the demand for these jobs, as well as benefits and healthcare.

National Skilled Trades Day was established to encourage students and others looking for jobs to enter skilled trades jobs. The Registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed that National Skilled Trades Day will be observed on the first Wednesday in May annually. The inaugural event was held on May 7, 2019. They'll be celebrating next on May 7, 2025. Be sure to take this opportunity to celebrate those in the skilled trades – it’s a true labor of love.