Big Ideas for Bright Futures in Skilled Trades Jobs
Tree Trust transforms lives with PAID, hands-on job training leading to fulfilling futures. Our Career Pathways programming introduces young people to the green industry and skilled trades, where they can discover meaningful work in family-supporting vocations. Through our amazing partnership with Big Ideas USA, Tree Trust offers career exploration utilizing virtual and augmented reality. Big Ideas’ team of skilled trade industry professionals make career and technical education exciting with their mobile learning lab – a black and yellow semi-truck filled with different exploration stations. From heavy equipment and welding to painting and carpentry, the Big Ideas lab leverages high-end skilled trades simulators to host an inspiring, interactive learning experience.
Andrew Kish, the Mobile Lab Learning Coordinator for Big Ideas USA, shares his insight into the importance of introducing skilled trades to young people.
Please share your history in the skilled trades.
My dad was an ironworker and I got into welding when I was about 14. At [age] 16 was when I first started getting on the job site. My first real experience in the skilled trades was as a professional welder when I was 17. We had to weld a bunch of base plates in Iowa at a grain facility and that was right after I got my certifications from the American Welding Society. I worked for a construction company when I graduated high school, and we went out to North Dakota and built continuous form cement silos. After that I went into some more ironworker mill work, and then I went to college for autobody.
A shop teacher at a local school said to me, “America will always need people that can build things.” This sentiment rings true with the statement on the Big Ideas USA website: “Without the trades we wouldn’t be here today.” I’m curious how the idea of utilizing augmented and virtual reality to ignite a passion for the trades came about, and how your work is filling a need for more education on skilled trades as a valuable career path.
Big Ideas started in 2017 between two moms, both with skilled trade backgrounds. Their kids couldn’t decide what to go to college for, so both said things like, “Hey, you should check out the skilled trades.” And they were like, “I don’t want a job; I want a career.” And that’s what sparked Big Ideas. There isn’t a thing that’s built, handled, delivered, or assembled that isn’t by some form of skilled trades [workers].
I’ve had the privilege to see you work with Tree Trust’s youth participants and your enthusiasm is contagious. What is your favorite part or perhaps your favorite moment working with young people as they explore career opportunities in the Big Ideas mobile lab?
It’s when you can see the youth realize that they can go into the skilled trades and see themselves taking these career paths. A lot of people, especially the younger generation, don’t have a lot of self-belief. When you give them the opportunity to try something new, even when they are timid, they blossom. I talk a lot about how you don’t really need to have a plan after high school or whenever you get your GED, but you need to have a skill set that is always going to make you money and put food on the table. And you need to continuously grow your knowledge. It doesn’t always have to be books and reading – your knowledge is based off life experiences, and the stuff you do hands-on is another form of learning. It’s better to try something and not like it than never try it and regret it.
In 2023, The United States Chamber of Commerce warned of a “massive shortage,” in skilled trades workers. Are you seeing this same challenge?
We’ve seen this challenge for a long time. I’ve seen it since 2015, where less and less people have been going into skilled trades. We work and talk to a lot of skilled trade companies, and they are always hiring. They are always talking about how the generation they have now is starting to get ready to retire. The average skilled trade worker, I believe, is in their mid-40’s and they are getting ready to retire.
What do you recommend to young people interested in exploring a trade? How can they take the first steps in their career after high school?
Sitting down and talking to a tradesperson or job shadowing is going to be a huge advantage. You can get into welding and get burned a few times and go, “Yep, this ain’t for me!” or you could get into it and say, “Oh this ain’t that bad. I could do this!” And then you start seeing the art and passion that goes behind the skilled trades. Shop classes are a wonderful thing and I feel like they are starting to come back. The virtual and augmented reality is a bridge between my generation and the newer generation because you give kids technology, which is a wonderful tool. It really helps kids experience skilled trades career options with none of the risk. You can really let them loose [to] see what it’s like.
Anything else you would like to share?
Tree Trust is by far one of the favorite places I go to. Your participants are always the most respectful and polite and attentive. It’s always a pleasure to go in there and you guys are so welcoming. It’s just a lot of fun giving the Tree Trust youth the opportunity to explore and expand out to many different career paths, and just working with your staff at Tree Trust. It’s a wonderful thing.
Skilled Trades Jobs
Tree Trust is grateful to our friends at Big Ideas USA for supporting our vision of a thriving workforce living on a healthy planet. Career technical education is a vital part of training the next generation of skilled workers. Career Pathways training programs Branches and Tree Trust YouthBuild provide opportunities for young people to get paid while learning life-changing skills exploring skilled trade careers. Learn more about Tree Trust’s programming on our website.
