Scholarships offered to tackle Michigan's skilled trades gap – abc12.com
Michigan is facing a shortage of skilled trades workers, with thousands of positions unfilled annually. Community Choice Credit Union is tackling this by offering scholarships for trades like welding and plumbing.
MID-MICHIGAN (WJRT) – Michigan is grappling with a shortage of skilled trades workers, leaving thousands of jobs unfilled annually.
Community Choice Credit Union aims to tackle this issue by offering scholarships to local students interested in trades like welding, plumbing, construction, and electrical work.
“The biggest thing for us is we want to invest in talent staying in Michigan. Skill trades is a major part of that,” said Dan Wunderlich, Senior Communications Specialist at Community Choice Credit Union.
Wunderlich emphasized that scholarships often overlook those entering the trades, focusing instead on high school seniors pursuing college.
Ryan Hundt, CEO of Michigan Works, said they anticipate 40,000 to 45,000 trades job openings each year through 2030.
“We have a number of individuals that have worked in the skilled trades for decades; they are now facing retirement,” Hundt said.
He mentioned a stigma around the trades being dirty and low-paying, but noted that trades workers earn on average 16% more than other occupations in Michigan.
“We can combat and battle that perception with statistics,” Hundt said.
Wunderlich added that Community Choice is committed to building a young talent pipeline and keeping them in Michigan.
“We know that the future is going to be strong with skilled trades. We need more tradespeople, and offering a scholarship to promote that is our way of putting our money where our mouth is,” Wunderlich said.
Filling these trades openings is crucial for securing Michigan’s workforce and supporting local projects, Hundt said.
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