Industry groups launch ‘Careers in Trades Week’

SMACNA, along with other trade groups, this week coined April 7 to 11 of this year as the first national ‘Careers in Trades Week’ to increase awareness of the skilled trades to students and job seekers nationwide. 

The big picture: 86 percent of U.S. parents with children currently in high school or college are open to encouraging a career in the trades, accounting for today’s job market and the growing college debt burden, according to a new survey. 

What’s happening: The week will feature activities among the groups, per the announcement, though locations and activity specifics remain unclear. 

• “Skilled professions play critical roles in building the world in which we live, work, and play,” said SMACNA CEO Aaron Hilger. 
• “It’s time that we provide a fresh look at how trade careers have evolved technologically and financially.”

Zoom out: The effort comes as over 40,000 annual job openings for HVAC technicians and installers are expected through 2033, and follows several similar initiatives announced just this year, including millions of dollars in workforce investments and the launch of a new trades-focused nonprofit.