In the past few years, there has been a new, renewed interest in working in trades. I have personally heard it talking to friends and seen a growing interest in the media as well. The numbers seem to back this up as well.
The U.S. Dept. of Labor suggests there are more than 2,300 new apprenticeship programs nationally and nearly 300,000 new apprentices. This is up from more than 241,000 new apprentices that entered the national apprenticeship system in fiscal year 2021. In fact, we have seen somewhat steady growth in the past decade and a half, with slight dips in 2017 and 2020.
These numbers just represent new apprentices too. We continue to see a steady incline of active ongoing apprentices. The success stories are exciting too. Consider Tanner Clugston, who was an apprentice during college breaks. His experience helped him achieve an academic scholarship and an engineering internship. Meanwhile, Cole Barnhart was able to use an apprenticeship to get a job right out of high school, ultimately leading to a better career down the line.
These young adults took part in JLG’s School to Work program, which allows high school juniors and seniors local to its manufacturing facilities in McConnellsburg, Shippensburg, Bedford, Greencastle and Chambersburg, Penn., to earn school credit while working paid roles in welding, assembly, painting, fabrication, warehouse support, and more. Students receive real-world experience, mentorship, and the chance to transition into full-time roles after graduation.
While JLG places a strong emphasis on cultivating future talent through school partnerships, it is just as committed to supporting those already working in the trades. Through internal trainee and upskilling programs, the company invests in current team members and new hires, helping them move into high-demand skilled roles such as welding and industrial painting. These programs not only strengthen individual career paths but also reinforce the long-term stability of the workforce.
More broadly, JLG is taking a deliberate, people-first approach to addressing the skilled labor shortage and rebuilding the talent pipeline. The company works closely with high schools, technical colleges, trade associations, and industry organizations—ABC (Associated Builders & Contractors), AGC (Associated General Contractors of America), AWCI (Assn. of the Wall & Ceiling Industry), MCAA (Mason Contractors Assn. of America), and SEAA (Steel Erectors Assn. of America), and more—to introduce students and job seekers to meaningful careers in the trades. By collaborating across education and industry, JLG is helping remove barriers to entry and create clearer pathways into skilled professions.
Ultimately, it is a story about opportunity, mentorship, and hands-on learning, where individuals can see a direct connection between effort and outcome. As interest in trades continues to grow, programs like these demonstrate how intentional investment in people can strengthen communities, fill critical workforce gaps, and redefine what a successful career looks like for the next generation.
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