Labor experts: Getting skilled trades classes back in schools crucial to fixing shortages

By Madison Merrell
Capital News Service 

LANSING — The dramatic decline in skilled trades education has caused a troubling workforce gap, said Colleen Sullivan, the deputy executive director of the Michigan AFL-CIO Workforce Development Institute. 

In recent years, Michigan employers have had a hard time filling in-demand skilled trades jobs. 

As experienced workers retired, fewer young people stepped in to replace them, leading to workforce shortages, said Michael Murray, the public information officer at the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. 

The major reason these programs were cut was that many boards of education opted to push curricula in which reaching state testing benchmarks and earning four-year degrees were deemed more important, said Sullivan, and many skilled trades programs were reduced or even eliminated at the high school level. 

As schools reintroduce some programs, other problems arise, such as outdated equipment and the need to find specialized teachers or industry experts, said Sullivan. 

Many programs were cut around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, and those schools had fully equipped shops that would need updating if they were to be used. 

Twenty-three school districts don’t have a special property tax to fund these career training programs, Bridge Michigan reported. 

Bridge Michigan reported that students in the Van Buren Intermediate School District in Southwest Michigan can choose from 28 programs, including advanced manufacturing, graphic design, computer programming and several health care options. 

Its technology center also has advanced equipment like a 3D printer, robotic welding tools, virtual painting programs and even a real ambulance for training, Bridge Michigan reported. 

The state is working to grow such programs through early exposure to skilled trades, said Ken Coleman of the public and governmental affairs office of the Department of Education. 

Many students don’t start these programs until high school, but school boards and local governments plan to expand into middle schools, Coleman said. 

The Michigan Education Association says there is a growing emphasis on rebuilding the workforce pipeline and preparing students early for these opportunities. 

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Career and Technical Education and skilled trades programs help students develop relevant skills, understand the postsecondary training required for their chosen fields and align their education with long‑term career goals, according to Coleman.

Some are using programs like Apprenticeship Walls, which give students and families accessible information about how apprenticeships can lead to high‑skill, high‑wage, and in‐demand jobs. 

The Manufacturing and Engineering Education Reimagined for All program was created to spark interest and build skills before students reach high school, said Coleman. 

Michigan has expanded its CTE programs — including skilled trades education — by 44%, helping to grow the pipeline of skilled workers entering the workforce, according to the Education Department. 

Kids won’t pursue careers they aren’t exposed to, said Coleman, and that’s why career development is so crucial. 

Labor market data reinforces that need:

The Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce estimates that by 2031, roughly 72% of jobs in the U.S. will require some form of postsecondary training. That training spans a wide range — from apprenticeships and industry certifications to two‑year and four‑year degrees. 

Many Michigan schools phased out skilled trades programs in the past because they were usually offered as electives. Another challenge was cost — offering courses as electives was often expensive to maintain, said Coleman.

CTE programs must meet strict state and federal standards, connect to college and career pathways, and allow students to earn industry-recognized credentials while still in high school. Those requirements help create results-driven programs that give students a competitive edge, Coleman said.

The MEA said Michigan has state-approved CTE through added funding to help cover the high costs of running strong CTE programs. In the past, many skilled trades electives didn’t have access to such support, which contributed to their decline. 

In the 2024-25 school year, a record 55,431 students completed CTE programs, the second consecutive year that the number hit a new high, according to the Education Department.