SkillsUSA Atlanta Conference Prepares Students for In-Demand Trade Careers – WABE

On a late June afternoon, a sea of ​​teenagers in white hard hats hammer nails into two-by-fours to see who can build the best tiny house at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Despite the loud noise and hectic pace, the students manage to stay focused on their tasks.

The students were just a few of the thousands of students, instructors and faculty from across the country who attended the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, held in Atlanta June 24-26.

“I like to call this our Super Bowl of the year,” said Ashley Acuff, executive director of SkillsUSA Georgia. “The earlier we get them exposed to all these different skills, the more successful they’ll be.”

Some students spend the entire year preparing for the SkillsUSA State Championships, where they compete in different disciplines, such as carpentry and plumbing.

“In Georgia, and in the construction industry in particular, we need about 10,000 new workers right now… If every person on the ground raised their hand and said, ‘I want to go work in construction,’ we could find them a good job.”

Scott Shelar, President and CEO – Construction Ready

The championships also provide an ideal foundation to consolidate the benefits of professional work for students who may struggle to pay for their university education.

“I feel like people look down on professional work a lot, and as college becomes more and more expensive, it becomes an option for more and more people,” said Jackie Allen, a Massachusetts high school senior who hopes to one day run her own construction company.

The tools SkillsUSA students learn will also give them the opportunity to give back to their communities, added Cesar Lescas, an 18-year-old student from Arizona who competed in heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

“I come from a poor family, so I want to help other people who have low income and can’t afford, you know, HVAC service or something like that,” said Lescas, who aspires to run his own HVAC business.

According to the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), the United States will need approximately 2.7 million tradespeople by 2026. However, due to high demand, Georgia needs a few thousand workers right now.

“In Georgia and in the construction industry in particular, we need about 10,000 new workers right now,” said Scott Shelar, president and CEO of Construction Ready, a nonprofit focused on developing skilled workers through recruitment and intensive training.

“In other words, if every person on the ground raised their hand and said, ‘I want to work in construction,’ we could find them a good job.”

“I feel like people look down on vocational education a lot, and as college becomes more expensive, it becomes an option for more and more people.”

Jackie Allen, SkillsUSA student

Shelar believes these events are essential for students to gain practical experience in their respective interests.

“How can a young person learn about a career in heavy equipment operation or electrical if they can’t go to the event and talk to real professionals?”

Another factor that has helped SkillsUSA gain traction with students is its commitment to diversity, according to Boyd Worsham, president and CEO of NCCER.

“Diversity is the key to solving this 2 million-person problem,” he said. “Quite frankly, we need this industry to be welcoming and open to all.”

And Allen, 16, hopes that trend continues.

“I like to see people who look like me or people of color on the field because it makes me feel more comfortable,” she said. “You know, the field is becoming more diverse. It’s not just angry old white guys anymore.”