We’re at an inflection point, a time of change, and an opportunity to grow the skilled trades.
For many, choosing a career path can be a complex process. Whether it's following in the footsteps of a loved one, chasing a childhood dream, learning as you go, or starting a new career altogether, structure and support make a difference. That’s why The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation proudly partnered with SkillsUSA, our valued partner Klein Tools, and co-sponsors 84 Lumber and NC3 for National Signing Day 2021 on May 4.
Recognizing hundreds of high school seniors entering the skilled trades, each of the sponsors awarded scholarships to deserving SkillsUSA students in the four major U.S. regions. The Home Depot Foundation gave scholarships to six students in the Southeast, totaling $30,000, to go toward each student’s trade school tuition:
- Annayeli Dionisio, Columbus Career & College Academy, Whiteville, North Carolina
- Jalen Randolph, Butler County Career Academy, Greenville, Alabama
- Jesse Moran, RIVEROAK Technical College, Live Oak, Florida
- Kayla Eades, Cross Keys High School, Atlanta
- Michael Snipes, East Laurens High School, East Dublin, Georgia
- Zackery Pitchford, Lumpkin County High School, Dahlonega, Georgia
Through this endeavor, we continue to build upon the progress of The Home Depot’s trade training program and are cheering this year’s graduating seniors as they move into a career in the building and construction industry.
And while this momentous occasion is a step in the right direction, it also highlights a critical challenge: As the changing of the guard continues, many building and construction segments aren’t finding talent to replace the ranks. That’s why initiatives like SkillsUSA’s National Signing Day and The Home Depot’s Path to Pro are crucial to the helping fill the skilled labor gap in the coming years.
National Signing Day
Begun in 2019 to honor students electing to join the skilled trades, this year’s program from SkillsUSA saw approximately 100 students commit to the building and construction segments—and that’s just in the Southeast. Programs like National Signing Day build excitement for a career in the trades while also creating a pipeline and simple pathway from high school to trade school.
In addition to educating students, and supporting professional development, programs like this also help emerging talent to form relationships with involved organizations like The Home Depot. Deepening knowledge and career preferences through structured programming and engagement allows skilled laborers to augment their choice.
So, rather than relying upon traditional recruiting methods to expand the building and construction categories, considering alternative ways to connect—like National Signing Day—can have a more positive impact.
Strategic Partnerships
The building and construction trades often feel familial. There are legacy brands driving growth, up-and-comers meeting new needs, and skilled leaders addressing unanticipated challenges. And the skilled trade shortage isn’t just affecting hiring, it’s also limiting the categories’ ability to grow and scale. Whereas other business segments may see flat growth or simple decline, the building and construction sectors could continue to skyrocket … if the right talent and partnerships are in place.
Building connections early—through engagements like National Signing Day—can inform longstanding relationships that inform where and how a contractor builds his business and purchases his supplies. And building upon these relationships are expert affiliates that are available to help inform, guide, and advance the skilled trades. Working with organizations such as SkillsUSA, Home Builders Institute, Construction Education Foundation of Georgia, and more allow for connections to be built, knowledge to be shared, and progress to be made.
The impact—and importance—of the building and construction trades on our futures cannot be understated. Through initiatives like SkillsUSA’s National Signing Day, we can rise together to positively influence the next generation of tradespeople. By connecting emerging talent to journeymen, and category leadership, we can create a category poised for prominence.
