LANCASTER, Ohio — Lancaster High School Senior Branson Lee has his future profession mapped out. 

What You Need To Know

  • He's learning electrical, plumbing, and mechanical skills in the classroom with instruction through Hocking College at the Fairfield County Workforce Center

  • Students get hands-on experience in their chosen field

  • More people are turning to skilled trades as a viable career choice

He's learning electrical, plumbing, and mechanical skills in the classroom with instruction through Hocking College at the Fairfield County Workforce Center and getting real-world hands-on experience with Lancaster-based Claypool Electric.

“I can just keep on working with Claypool Electric and get my 8,000 hours in hopefully within the next two to four years. They're always willing to teach me something I don't know,” said Lee. 

Lee said getting started in a career while a teenager, first with the apprenticeship, then later as a full-time hire, has many advantages. 

“I can be investing a lot more, opposed to if I were like 20, 23 range. And it's also really good to get started early so you have that extra money left for you in the future,” said Lee. 

Matt Claypool is the chief operations officer and third-generation owner of Claypool Electric. 

His company has done commercial electric work for 68 years. 

While he said just a decade ago it was hard to recruit students to take part in the skilled trades, the tides have since turned. 

“That's really changed in the last three to four years, where college has become expensive, and people see this more as a viable career choice. And frankly, people make really good money doing what we do,” said Claypool. 

For Lee who graduates next month, he knows a great opportunity awaits in his own backyard.

He has even bigger ambitions for the future. 

“Claypool Electric right now is a really good start, and I'm going to stay with them for a good while, I do know that. Especially since I'm from Lancaster, it's really nice getting another local company to teach me the ropes. The ultimate goal for me is, I want to someday become my own electrical contractor,” said Lee.