Skilled Trades
Careers in the skilled trades offer so many opportunities!
If you’d like to work with your hands, build and fix things, and make a lasting impact – all while earning a good living and without accumulating student loans – a career in the skilled construction or manufacturing trades might be right for you!
Want to know more? Click here for a brief overview of local opportunities related to plumbing, steamfitting, roofing, and electrical work, and here for information on the carpenters, painters, ironworkers, and operating engineers. Have a special area of interest? Check out these short, more focused videos!
Focus on Plumbers: https://youtu.be/3U8icrJx05g
Focus on Steamfitters: https://youtu.be/AOMJPNEBXRk
Focus on Roofers: https://youtu.be/hWguTmbsmqU
Focus on Electrical Workers: https://youtu.be/hKZD1aemnFg
Focus on Painters & Allied Trades: https://youtu.be/wGF0Z1rEE0U?si=FwYnge0H6XxGdPxj
Focus on Ironworkers: https://youtu.be/9EAwQ7AzrMY
Focus on Operating Engineers: https://youtu.be/R6jsWV9gQNs?si=oIGd_TGB40Ms0rXo
Focus on Carpenters: https://youtu.be/hBRJnRunuHA?si=1uBHwhy1PLypjSkS
Focus on Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers: https://youtu.be/EQbClYr8lNg?si=qe4wLgj0kLRmMaII
Several of these videos have also been translated into languages other than English. Those can be accessed through our Career Street YouTube channel here.
Think you might want to pursue a skilled construction trades career? Click here to access the Erie County Skilled Trades Directory for more information and to get started!
There are also great jobs available in the manufacturing skilled trades in our region, and we are highlighting just a few of those in-demand positions and important employability skills through similar videos:
Focus on Manufacturing - Showcase: https://youtu.be/-btaHHPuOdU?si=jYFBec2gs3h3KtQo
Focus on Manufacturing - Toolmaker: Focus on Manufacturing - Tool Maker
Focus on Manufacturing - Machinery Maintenance Worker: https://youtu.be/jgRxAYoT468?si=S0WOXj9kJGfI0LWV
Focus on Manufacturing - CNC Tool Operator: https://youtu.be/lOS_PEd8rIc?si=jAoeOzfMxkj3syyx
Focus on Manufacturing - Skills/Attributes for Success: https://youtu.be/LSxNjvblcMY?si=SRUEV5rEQ7QGmYH1
Erie Together’s work in the skilled trades arena has been done through two comprehensive projects providing career exploration opportunities and informational resources for high school and middle school students.
The first project, completed in December 2023, was supported 100% by the Employment and Training Administration of the US Department of Labor as part of an award totaling $37,000 with 0% financed from non-governmental sources. The second project, currently underway, is supported 100% by the Employment and Training Administration of the US Department of Labor as part of an award totaling $118,802.50 with 0% financed from non-governmental sources.
Erie Together secured this funding in partnership with NWPA Job Connect.