Articles
National Skilled Trades Day encourages, promotes students for trade jobs
By Donald Sparks, HCC Central Communications Director
May 2, 2024
Thanks in part to a $100,000 renewable grant from Johnson Controls, students are learning skills in areas with an existing shortage of workers.
Throughout the United States, many businesses are facing a huge dilemma – there are more skilled trades job openings than there are people to fill them. According to Forbes, over 53% of workers employed in a skilled trade are nearing retirement age.
Community colleges such as Houston Community College Central are playing a pivotal role by working with industry organizations and providing certifications for students desiring to enter careers in trade jobs.
To recognize the contributions of what skilled workers bring to the American business sector and developing future talent entering the workforce, HCC and Johnson Controls (JCI) celebrated National Skilled Trades Day today.
National Skilled Trades Day was established to encourage students and others looking for jobs to consider and enter skilled trades industries. HCC Central and JCI have partnered to train the future HVAC, fire, security and digital workforce to address this critical shortage.
“They [Johnson Controls] bring us the newest and greatest technology, networking opportunities, and provide on-site industry field trips for our students,” said Kris Asper, dean, Center of Excellence, Architectural Design and Construction, HCC Central. “The students participating in the programs are learning new and great skills. Upon graduating, some have started working with Johnson Controls, so this is a win for our future skilled technicians.”
Through the partnership, which includes a $100,000 renewable grant from JCI, students gain hands-on experience on cutting-edge technologies. Aper mentioned 45 HCC Central students have received scholarships and are currently in the HVAC program right now.
The relationship with HCC Central reflects a national community college partnership JCI has across the nation aimed at training, uplifting, and providing support to student need-based scholarships in historically underserved areas.
“Here in Houston, we know that a lot of the students enrolled at HCC would be able to benefit from the scholarship support so that they can get the training they need to be successful on their career path and journey,” said Holly Maria Flynn-Vilaseca, account executive, Texas, JCI.
Speaking from personal experience, Tom Brdar, branch HVAC service manager, JCI, started his career 20 years ago as a frontline mechanic, recently shared his path from apprentice to his current position at a ‘Lunch and Learn’ event with HCC students in the HVAC program.
“It’s amazing that we are recognizing people for their skilled trades,” Brdar said. “For a lot of people growing up, they always hear about college, they hear about doctors, they hear about lawyers, and they hear about nurses. They’re important professions, but many people don’t realize that the very nature of our country and society was built on the back of skilled tradesmen. We want to ensure that we are continuing to develop those people that are holding society up.”
Asper hopes promoting National Skilled Trades Day will bring awareness to the many opportunities at HCC Central for students to consider and prepare them for a satisfying career.
“These skills will provide them with a career for life,” Asper said.
Today is National Skilled Trades Day, a day established to encourage students and others looking for jobs to enter skilled trades jobs! Celebrate our HCC students, faculty and industry partners for their talents, skills and contributions for all the work they do!
Looking to join the skilled trades?
Learn more: about the Architectural Design & Construction program here