Blog

Like many of you, I’m a sports fan and in my youth was a fair to middling athlete. Never a star but usually better than half of my teammates. That’s also a fair description of the physical traits needed to become a skilled trade worker. You don’t have to have a body builder’s physique or […]

May 2023 Congratulations to the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” Recipients! Explore The Trades is pleased to announce the winners of the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grants! Approximately 700 high school students and 150 middle...

1. More than one in six skilled tradespeople end up owning their own business and another 20% become partners in a business. 2. 30% of small business owners have no more than a high school diploma. 3. Construction is the most popular profession for people who own their own businesses. 4. The average...

There are few truer sayings than “It is never too late.” It’s never too late to change, build better habits, or take on new challenges. It is never too late to launch a career that is fulfilling, stable, and allows you to provide for yourself and your family. The trades offer exactly that...

April 2023 New and Updated Resources Ready for You Explore The Trades has updated our most popular resource – the career path handouts. With a refreshed the look and updated stats, these resources are what you need to promote the trades of plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical. PLUS! We’ve...

I was about to submit a different insight for this month’s first blog, but during my daily online reading, an article about the importance of skilled workers as we enter a new phase of space exploration caught my eye. “ … Many different launch and crew vehicles, private space facilities, and other...

As an alternative to four-year college programs, trade schools offer students an opportunity to gain practical, hands-on training and education in their chosen career path, boasting lower tuition costs and a shorter degree track, allowing graduates to enter the workforce as soon as possible. With an...

March 2023 Celebrate Women in the Trades! Celebrate Women’s History Month with Explore The Trades! Get inspired by women like Lillian Baumbach. Did you know that Lillian was the first female licensed master plumber in the U.S.? Lillian got her master’s license in 1951 in Virginia! Learn about...

The construction industry will need to attract an estimated 546,000 additional workers on top of the normal pace of hiring in 2023 to meet the demand for labor, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors, a construction industry trade association. “As the demand for construction services...