MILWAUKEE — The demand for skilled trade workers in the U.S. is soaring.
And the current shortage of workers is causing the building trades to increase their recruitment efforts.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that there are currently more than 1 million people working in the trades between the ages of 55 to 64 years old. That will lead to quite a few positions opening up over the next decade.
“We’re seeing an increased demand for steamfitters,” said Joel Zielke, business manager at Steamfitters Local 601, of the job that involves assembling, installing, maintaining and repairing pipes. “We have about 400 apprentices now and it’s still not enough.”
He said baby boomers are leaving the workforce. He also added that the cities of Milwaukee and Madison, where they’re located, are continuing to grow.
While the union is looking to increase the number of skilled workers, they do have some current workers who are thriving.
Rachel Nelson is in her fifth year as a construction steamfitter apprentice. She said her military background shaped her work ethic and got her acclimated to working in a male-dominated field.
Nelson said she wanted to get into something that would allow her to be hands on. As a single mom, she needed something that would help her provide for her daughter.
“You don’t have all of this college debt coming out of this apprenticeship,” said Nelson. “You come out earning a really respectable wage.”
She said it’s also a job that’s teaching her valuable lessons she can pass on to her daughter.
“It’s shown my daughter what she can be capable of,” said Nelson. “She doesn’t have to fit into this box of society might put her in.”
Arturo Contreras also knows what it’s like to work in this industry. As a fifth-year welding apprentice and father of a 4-year-old, he said this profession is helping him provide for his family.
“Having prior welding experience has really helped me advance in the company I work for,” said Contreras.
He comes from a long line of manufacturing workers who get their hands dirty, but he’s the first in his family to join the steamfitter profession.
Despite the hard work that comes along with it, he said it’s all worth it.
“There’s going to be long days and sometimes the work is brutal,” he said. “But if you think that this is something you really want to do, go after it.”
Steamfitters Local 601 has 2,400 members throughout 14 counties in southeast Wisconsin.
The company is always looking for the best and brightest to join their local as journey persons or apprentices. To learn more, visit their website.