On National Skilled Trades Day (May 7, 2025), we celebrate the essential workers who keep Pennsylvania’s economy running. From electricians and welders to healthcare technicians and mechanics, skilled trades professionals are the backbone of our workforce. More importantly, we need to give these workers a reason to stay in Pennsylvania, to fill critical roles, and to drive our state’s economic prosperity.
The demand for skilled workers is at an all-time high. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, the state is facing a shortfall of more than 300,000 skilled trade workers by 2030. This gap threatens our infrastructure, healthcare system, and manufacturing sector – industries that are vital to our state’s economic stability. Without immediate action, businesses will be forced to slow operations, and our communities will suffer from delayed services, stalled construction projects, and understaffed hospitals…