Trades
News and information for skilled trades like carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC.
Experts Evaluate Complex Door Hardware Scenarios for 2026
A major hospital project in Phoenix faced a six-month delay and $3 million in cost overruns last year.
Affordable Solar Bird Bath Fountains for Your Garden
During a recent Memorial Day sale, a solar lantern birdbath from Wayfair was available for just $50, highlighting the surprising affordability of these eco-friendly garden features, a key consideratio
Seed Snail Method: New Research Confirms Benefits, Highlights Risks
A recent National Gardening Association study found the viral Seed Snail Method boosts germination rates by 30% for small-seeded vegetables, but also increases 'damping off' disease by 15% due to high
Maryland Authority Announces $4B+ Key Bridge Procurements
Maryland's Key Bridge reconstruction efforts in 2026 involve four separate procurements announced by the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA).
Skilled Trades Surge Overwhelms Plumbing Colleges in Canada
At Humber College in Toronto, the plumbing apprenticeship program received 3,500 applications for just 150 spots this year — a 23x oversubscription.
Traeger Westwood XL Grill Offers Digital Temp Control
For just $799, the new Traeger Westwood XL offers 823 square inches of cooking space and WiFIRE remote monitoring, a combination previously found only in much more expensive smart grills.
NEFBA apprenticeship program shows strong success
In 2023, every graduate from the NEFBA apprenticeship program attained NCCER industry credentials, according to www-bths.
Future Builders Offers Free Skilled Trades Training for Middle Schoolers
Springfield's new 'Future Builders' initiative launched last week, offering free after-school training in plumbing, electrical work, and HVAC to students aged 11-14.
Cape Breton nursing home workers strike halts construction
Construction on the new $115 million, 144-bed Northside Community Guest Home in Sydney Mines has ground to a halt.
German heavy-duty tape measure market trends see digital surge
Last year, sales of digital-readout tape measures in Germany surged by 15%.
Self-Paced E-Learning Accelerates Skilled Trades Training for 2026
On May 11, 2026, Amicus O&M Cooperative launched a 30-hour online program to rapidly certify solar PV and BESS O&M technicians, reports IndexBox .
Wyoming National Guard Builds Homes with Habitat for Humanity
In Cheyenne, Wyoming, soldiers from the National Guard's 307th Engineer Utilities Detachment are not on a combat mission.
Vocational training initiatives face skilled labor shortage
77% of manufacturers report difficulties attracting and retaining workers, highlighting a pervasive struggle across the industry.
Trade schools and career expos boost skilled trades education in 2026
Nearly 1,300 high school students in Milwaukee recently spent a day trying their hands at welding, bricklaying, and electrical work, a clear sign of how the next generation views skilled trades, accor
Students flock to 2026 skilled trades expo, exploring diverse career paths.
In Milwaukee, nearly 1,300 high school students recently converged at the Building Advantage Career Fair, a significant jump from 900 attendees just a year prior.
State Leaders Champion Skilled Trades for Youth Vocational Training
In Michigan, a record 55,431 students completed Career and Technical Education programs in the 2024-25 school year, more than double the number from just a decade prior, according to Bridge Michigan .
Michigan skilled trades programs show widening access disparities
A state audit found 70% of new skilled trades equipment funding went to districts with higher property tax revenues, benefiting wealthier suburban schools, according to the State Auditor General's Off
Lowe's Foundation invests $250M in skilled trades training
Lowe's Foundation is investing $250 million over the next decade to train 250,000 skilled trade workers.
States Drive US Skilled Trades Education and Apprenticeship Growth
In 2025, Montana's Registered Apprenticeship Program hit its highest participation ever.
National Apprenticeship Week Highlights Skilled Trades Opportunities in 2026
Montana's Registered Apprenticeship Program grew by 33% over the past decade, reaching 3,464 active apprenticeships across 65 occupations in 2025, according to the National Governors Association .
Canada Invests $6 Billion to Address Skilled Trades Labor Shortage
The Canadian government commits up to $6 billion over five years to address the skilled trades worker shortage, according to Daily Hive .
2026 Initiatives Expand Skilled Trades for Students, Veterans, and Women
The Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation has granted $2.
U.S. Develops New Pathways to Address Skilled Trades Labor Shortage
The artificial intelligence boom, often seen as a white-collar revolution, paradoxically faces a critical shortage of nearly 200,000 fiber-optic technicians.
Alabama launches $2,000 scholarship for aviation and construction careers
Students eyeing careers in aviation or construction in Alabama have a new target: May 2026, when applications open for $100,000 in new scholarships.
Lowe's Invests $450M in Skilled Trade Worker Training Programs
Lowe's has committed an additional $200 million to train 250,000 tradespeople by 2035, bringing its total investment to $450 million and signaling a massive corporate intervention into the national sk
Skilled trades shortage strains economy, new training initiatives launch
The U.S. faces a projected deficit of nearly 1.4 million skilled trades jobs by 2030. This gap could cost the national economy an estimated $325.6 billion in lost GDP annually, according to Bringbackt
Lowe's Pledges $250M to Train 250,000 Skilled Trade Workers
The U.S. will need 456,000 additional construction workers by 2027. Lowe's aims to fill this gap with a quarter-billion-dollar investment. This commitment trains 250,000 skilled trade workers over the
Anheuser-Busch Invests $600M in Skilled Trades Training
Last year, nearly 600,000 jobs were posted for major skilled trades positions in the U.
New training program boosts construction skills, filling tech jobs
Meta and CBRE have launched the LevelUp Fiber Technician Pathway, a free, four-week training program designed to prepare individuals with no prior experience to become fiber technicians for data cente
Red Wing launches IronFlex boots for immediate comfort
Red Wing, a brand recognized for its rugged work boots, has launched its new IronFlex line, designed using insights from over three million worker foot scans.