SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine —Bring Back The Trades (BBTT), a national nonprofit, recently teamed up with Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) to bring the first-ever BBTT Skills Expo to the state.
The event featured 70 hands-on trades exhibits and drew more than 1,500 attendees.
Presented by F.W. Webb Co., the Skills Expo gave students, teachers, and community members a first-hand look at the skilled trades. Students operated excavators, tested their skills on virtual welding simulators, built birdhouses, and used professional Milwaukee Tool Propress tools to connect copper piping.
Industry experts from across the region were there to talk about career paths in plumbing, HVAC, electrical work, construction, cosmetology, allied health, and more.
The strong turnout highlighted a critical reality in the job market, a BBTT press release said. Research released by BBTT earlier this year revealed that 25% of jobs across seven core trades will be open by 2030, representing a staggering $325 billion national workforce gap.
“People talk about the projected workforce shortage like we can’t do anything about it,” said Steve Turner, CEO and founder of Bring Back The Trades. “But look at what happened Tuesday. We found many local employers ready to step up and invest in the next generation, and over 1,500 students who aren’t looking at the trades as a backup plan — they’re ready to get to work.”
Local and regional businesses rallied behind the event and helped BBTT grant $22,500 in scholarship awards. The event drew in students from 33 regional schools, as well as home-schooled students and community members.
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“Seeing our campus packed with students and local employers Tuesday showed just how excited the next generation is about opportunities in the skilled trades,” said Dr. Kristen Miller, president of SMCC. “We were thrilled to host the Bring Back the Trades Skills Expo here on our South Portland campus. It was an incredible opportunity to help students take steps to build their futures.”
SMCC offers hands-on education and certifications in HVAC, automotive, construction, plumbing, electrical work, and more. Local major industry representatives from F.W. Webb, SMCC, Casella Waste, Eastern Propane & Oil, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Lighthouse Credit Union, Milwaukee Tool, and dozens more were represented and offered an opportunity for attendees to network directly with the companies actively seeking to raise awareness about viable careers in the trades.
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