Why skilled trades are vital to Pennsylvania’s future

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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.

Unlike other career paths that often lead young professionals out of state in search of opportunity, the skilled trades offer stable, well-paying jobs that encourage workers to remain in their communities. In fact, data from the National Skills Coalition shows that nearly 80% of those trained in skilled trades remain employed in their home state. This retention strengthens Pennsylvania’s workforce and ensures that businesses have the skilled employees they need to thrive. Yet, too often, these career paths are overlooked, undervalued, and underfunded. That must change.

The Tec Centro Workforce Network, comprised of regional bilingual workforce development centers, is at the forefront of solving this workforce challenge. Since its founding in 2023, the Network has expanded to serve Berks, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Philadelphia, and York counties, regions where workforce shortages are particularly pressing. By providing tuition-free, bilingual education and occupational training, Tec Centro is equipping workers with the skills they need to secure family-sustaining careers in high-demand fields.

The economic impact is clear. Graduates of Tec Centro’s programs are filling critical job vacancies, reducing dependency on public assistance, and contributing to the tax base. A report from the Keystone Research Center found that for every dollar invested in workforce training, Pennsylvania sees a return of up to $8 in economic growth. When workers earn competitive wages and reinvest in their local economies, the benefits extend beyond individuals, they strengthen entire communities.

Despite this progress, demand for skilled workforce training far exceeds available resources. Across all Tec Centro locations, over 2,200 individuals remain on our waitlist. An additional $8 million is needed to train those eager to join Pennsylvania’s skilled workforce. The solution requires a collaborative approach – public and private investment, expanded training opportunities, and policies that support technical education. But we cannot wait for these solutions to emerge on their own – every stakeholder must take action now.

We call on state legislators to prioritize funding for workforce training programs. We urge businesses to invest in apprenticeships, internships, and educational partnerships. We ask community leaders to advocate for policies that expand access to technical education. And we challenge every Pennsylvanian to recognize and respect the value of skilled trades in sustaining our economy.

As we recognize National Skilled Trades Day, let this be more than a day of acknowledgment; let it be a call to action. The future of Pennsylvania’s economy depends on a robust and skilled labor force. The time to invest in that future is now.

Robert Torres is the Executive Director of Tec Centro Capital Region which is located in Harrisburg and one of seven locations within the Tec Centro Workforce Network serving six counties including Berks, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Philadelphia, and York. The collective goal of the Network is to serve disproportionately disadvantaged populations in third-class cities that have a heavy concentration of residents who face barriers related to bilingual education, skills training, and job placement.