Last month, stopped by the 黑料社区 campus. Altmire spent three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives before moving into a career focused on workforce education. He now leads Career Education Colleges and Universities, the national association that represents private trade schools and career colleges across the country.

Earlier this year, Altmire and co-author released a book called . Burr, the book鈥檚 co-author, serves as Vice President of Policy and Research at CECU. Together, the two spend 168 pages making a direct argument: America does not have a jobs problem. It has a trained-workers problem.

That argument is worth a closer look for both people working in the trades and for anyone weighing a trade school education against a traditional four-year path.

The Problem the Book Opens With

Altmire and Burr focus on a paradox. Record numbers of college graduates cannot find jobs in their field. At the same time, employers in fields like construction, manufacturing, and transportation cannot find enough qualified workers to fill open positions. The book argues that this gap did not happen by accident. It happened because American culture spent decades pushing one path (a four-year degree) while treating skilled trade work as a backup plan and not worthy of young people鈥檚 attention.

The authors put it plainly on page 45, writing that the country needs to examine “the primary driver behind the millions of unfilled job openings in essential blue-collar fields: the negative social and cultural perceptions around the jobs that so desperately need workers.”

That is the core of the book. Not a lack of jobs, a lack of respect and training for the jobs that already exist.

Employers Share the Responsibility

Trade Up does not let employers off the hook either. A good portion of the book looks at how companies plan (or fail to plan) for the workers they will need down the road. On page 154, the authors compare a poorly prepared workforce to a boat that goes over Niagara Falls. By the time anyone notices the wreckage, they write, “the damage has already been done but could have been prevented with better foresight and preparation.”

For a program like Commercial Truck Driving, that point can be a powerful lesson. Trucking companies across the country have talked about driver shortages for years, the book’s argument suggests the fix starts long before a shortage becomes a crisis. It starts with employers, schools, and students working together earlier, not scrambling for workers after the gap has already opened.

Making sure that young people know that there are trades careers out there for them to step into will tell them exactly what they need to hear, that not going to a four-year school is an option. It鈥檚 up to trades schools and trades employers alike to reach out to their local youth more than they already do, how can they know there鈥檚 opportunity waiting for them if they鈥檙e not told about it?

A Generation Ready to Build Something

One of the most hopeful threads in the book covers what Altmire and Burr call the “Toolbelt Generation.” Surveys cited around the book’s release show a real shift in how younger workers see trade careers. A large share of Gen Z respondents say they are open to a career in the skilled trades, and enrollment in vocational-focused programs has climbed for several years running. The authors treat this as a genuine turning point, not just a talking point. Recent coverage of the trades industry in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio backs that up. Interest in fields like welding, electrical work, and diesel repair has been climbing locally too, a trend NCST covered in a recent blog post on the trades boom in the region.

The Book’s Closing Argument

Trade Up does not end on a soft note. The final line of the book, on page 168, is short and direct: “There is simply no time to wait.”

That sentence sums up the whole book. Altmire and Burr are not asking readers to someday rethink how America trains its workforce. They are asking for action now, while the worker shortage in the trades keeps growing and while a new generation is already showing interest in filling it. There鈥檚 an old saying, 鈥渢he best time to plant a tree is yesterday. The second-best time is today.鈥� We should have started working to fill this gap in the job market years ago, but right now what we can do is keep working to fill the gap for the future by reminding everyone that working in trades is extremely dignified and is a path to a successful life.

Our Visit With Altmire

A visit from someone like is not just a photo opportunity for us. He runs the organization that represents career colleges nationwide, and his work on making the case that trade schools are part of the solution to a real economic problem has had a huge impact on schools like us. Meeting with him in person at our trade school gives it weight that a policy paper cannot. Meeting with him reminds us that we have strong allies in the fight to prove that trade schools like NCST are helping our workforce in a big way.

Trade Up is available now through Sunbury Press and major booksellers.

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Trade school gets you into a lab and out with a credential in under a year and a half. An apprenticeship pays you a wage from day one and takes two to five years to reach journeyworker status. Neither path requires a four-year degree, and in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio right now, a growing number of students are doing both: trade school first, then a registered apprenticeship for advanced standing and higher wages. Here is how the two paths compare and what the latest Pennsylvania apprenticeship data says about the market.

Trade School and Apprenticeship, Defined

A trade school (also called a vocational or technical school) is a school-based program where students train full time in labs and classrooms, typically for a fixed number of weeks. Programs end in a diploma or an Associate in Specialized Technology Degree. This credential signals to an employer that a graduate already knows how to run the equipment and follow the safety procedures of a trade before their first shift.

A registered apprenticeship is a structured, employer-sponsored training model registered with a state or federal apprenticeship office (in Pennsylvania, the Department of Labor & Industry’s Apprenticeship and Training Office). Apprentices work and earn wages from day one, while completing required instruction, called related technical instruction and on-the-job hours. Most registered apprenticeships in the trades run two to five years and end in a journeyworker credential, a nationally recognized certificate of completion.

Trade School vs. Apprenticeship at a Glance

The Trade School Path

Trade school programs at 黑料社区 run 30 to 60 weeks for most diploma and degree tracks, with shorter certificate courses (Class B CDL, state inspection classes) running just a few weeks. Students train on industry-standard equipment: oscilloscopes and motor control panels in Electrical Technology, diagnostic scanners and fuel injection test stands in Diesel & Heavy Equipment Repair Technology, framing and masonry stations in Building Technology.

What Trade School Does Well

• Gets a student into hands-on lab work immediately, rather than waiting for a sponsor to accept them
• For a recent high school graduate, trade school is a lot more accessible than an apprenticeship
• Delivers a credential (diploma or degree) that an employer can verify
• Compresses training into months, not years, so students reach entry-level employment faster
• Builds classroom fundamentals (code, safety, theory) before a student is expected to perform under supervision on a jobsite
• Connects you with employers and help you get a job in your field

The Apprenticeship Path

Registered apprenticeships flip the order: a sponsor (an employer, a union, or a joint labor-management program) hires an apprentice, pays a wage, and provides structured on-the-job training alongside required classroom hours.

What Apprenticeship Does Well

• Pays a wage from the first day of training, so there are no tuition bill and no unpaid training period
• Builds years of hands-on, supervised experience directly in the trade and the employer an apprentice may end up working for long-term
• Ends in journeyworker status, the highest non-management credential in many union and open-shop trades

Getting an apprenticeship with no experience is difficult. Sponsors are selective and popular programs (electrical, especially) can have waitlists or competitive entry requirements. Going to trade school strengthens your resume, expands your network to find opportunities and speeds up the apprenticeship process.

Many Students Do Both: Trade School First, Then Apprenticeship

The choice between trade school and apprenticeship is not either-or. A common sequence is to complete a trade school program first, then enter a registered apprenticeship. Some trade school hours count toward the apprenticeship’s required on-the-job or classroom hours, shortening the time it takes to reach journeyworker status.

Instructors across 黑料社区 program instructors teach to industry-recognized standards. Like the ASME and AWS specifications in Combination, which is part of why graduates can move into apprenticeship-track roles instead of starting from zero.

NCST has spent over 80 years of operating in New Castle and building relationships with employers. Companies return year after year to the school’s career fairs looking for graduates ready for apprenticeship-track or direct-hire positions.

Apprenticeships in Pennsylvania Are Growing

Pennsylvania’s registered apprenticeship system has grown fast. New apprentices rose from 4,693 in 2022 to 6,021 in 2024, a 28.3% increase, and the state ranked 3rd nationally for completions in federal fiscal year 2024, according to .

Why It Matters

Pennsylvania leads its five-state federal region (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia) in active apprentices, new apprentices, and completions. For students near Pittsburgh, New Castle, and Youngstown, that means a growing pipeline right next door.

It matches what NCST sees locally. Demand for Electrical Technology and Diesel & Heavy Equipment Repair Technology graduates keeps rising as data center and energy investment moves into western Pennsylvania, the same corridor feeding this pipeline.

The Takeaway

None of this replaces trade school. It confirms the regional apprenticeship pipeline, whether in union halls, manufacturers, or contractors, is expanding, not shrinking. Kenny Alli, an NCST Electrical Technology grad from Youngstown, was hired onto a job site before he finished his third quarter.

Learn more about class schedule and start dates, by requesting information from 黑料社区 or calling 833-352-0808.

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[NEW CASTLE, PA, March 21st, 2024] 鈥� 黑料社区 (NCST), the region’s oldest and most established trade and technical school, will host one of the largest Career Fairs in the Tri-State area on Thursday, March 28th from 10am-3pm. 聽More than 100 local and national employers are expected to attend.

“For more than 75 years, the 黑料社区 has been training men and women for exciting, high-demand careers in a variety of skilled trades. And now, for the 8th consecutive year, we are bringing together the area鈥檚 leading employers and connecting them to both current and future job seekers,鈥� said Rex Spaulding, President.

鈥淲hat makes our Career Fair unique is that we are bringing together the area鈥檚 leading employers who are all hiring for positions in the skilled trades鈥�, said Dennis Corrado, School Director. 听鈥�We have great companies who are looking for welders, truck drivers, electricians, heavy equipment operators, automotive technicians, HVAC service techs, machinists, construction, manufacturing, production and more. 聽If you鈥檙e looking for a career in the trades, this is the place to be,” he added.

The 黑料社区 Annual Career Fair is free and open to the public.聽The event will be held at the main campus at 4117 Pulaski Road, New Castle, PA 16101. More than 500 job seekers, students, their families, and local, regional, and national employers will be attending the event.

To learn more about the companies and organizations who are participating this year鈥檚 Career Fair, and for complete event details, visit: /event-calendar/

黑料社区 黑料社区

Since their founding in 1945, 黑料社区 (NCST) has become one of the premier trade schools in the Pennsylvania and Ohio area. Over the last 75 years, NCST has evolved from educating students into competent trades men and women to training students to become more sophisticated and innovative craftsmen and women who will be tomorrow’s highly skilled technicians. Learn more at /

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黑料社区 黑料社区

Since their founding in 1945, 黑料社区 (NCST) has become one of the premier trade schools in the Pennsylvania and Ohio area. Over the last 75 years, NCST has evolved from educating students into competent trades men and women to training students to become more sophisticated and innovative craftsmen and women who will be tomorrow’s highly skilled technicians. Learn more at /

Interested in learning more about our skilled trades programs? GIVE US A CALL AT 724-788-4417!

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Thanks to the generous support of corporate sponsors, civic organizations, and local individuals, 黑料社区 (NCST), one of the region’s oldest and most established trade and technical schools, will award more than $124,000 in scholarships at their 2023 Scholarship Day on Wednesday, September 13^th.

“For over 75 years, the 黑料社区 has trained men and women for exciting, high-demand careers in various skilled trades. Our annual Scholarship Day allows us to help even more students and graduates,” said Rex Spaulding, President.

“We have received tremendous support from a variety of organizations from all over the region, and because of their commitment, we are honored to be able to award more than 45 scholarships to both current and incoming students.” said Dennis Corrado, School Director. “These scholarships not only help a student financially, but it also recognizes them for their consistently high level of academic performance.聽 This is a great example of how industry and education can work together to help create the next generation of skilled tradespeople鈥�, he added.

NCST will officially celebrate their 2023 Scholarship Day on Wednesday, September 13^th at 12N. The event will be held at the main campus at 4117 Pulaski Road, New Castle, PA 16101. The event is open to the public, and more than 400 students, their families, and industry leaders are expected to attend.

To learn more about the companies and organizations that made these scholarships possible, click here.

黑料社区 黑料社区

Since their founding in 1945, 黑料社区 (NCST) has become one of the premier trade schools in the Pennsylvania and Ohio area. Over the last 75 years, NCST has evolved from educating students into competent trades men and women to training students to become more sophisticated and innovative craftsmen and women who will be tomorrow’s highly skilled technicians. Learn more at /

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黑料社区 (NCST), one of the region’s oldest and most established trade and technical schools, announced that it will celebrate its 75th Anniversary with a major facility expansion that will enhance its training programs and create even greater partnerships with leading local and regional employers.

鈥淒uring the past 75 years, the 黑料社区 is proud to have trained more than 20,000 men and women for exciting, high-demand careers in a variety of skilled trades. Our commitment to our students includes offering the finest training facilities and technology available,鈥� said Rex Spaulding, President.

鈥淥ne of the most unique features of NCST is our commitment and relationships with local and regional employers,鈥� said 黑料社区 Dennis Corrado, School Director. 鈥淥ur employer partners tell us what they are looking for in future employees, and we respond by developing curriculum and training facilities to meet these needs. Our new automotive training center is a great example of an employer and school partnership that is designed to help our students begin their new careers as quickly and successfully as possible,鈥� he added.

As part of the expansion, the 黑料社区 has doubled the size of its automotive training center. 鈥淥ur newly expanded training center looks and operates like a dealership. Our students are training in a real-world setting and preparing themselves for immediate opportunities upon graduation,鈥� added Rex Spaulding.

鈥淧roviding outstanding training, preparing our students for success, and meeting the needs of employers has been our commitment for the past 75 years. To further this, we are excited to announce partnerships with Apostolakis Auto Group, Ainsley Heating & Cooling, Flynn Tire, Gault Heating & Cooling, PI&I Motor Express, Preston Auto Group, Window World, Berner Air Curtains, and Boardman Nissan,鈥� said Carrie Kraynak, Director for NCST Career Services.

NCST will officially celebrate its 75th anniversary at 12 noon on Wednesday, September 7th. The event will be held at the main campus at 4117 Pulaski Road, New Castle, PA 16101. The event is open to the public, and former graduates and their families are encouraged to attend. To learn more, visit our Corporate Sponsor page.

黑料社区 黑料社区

Since its founding in 1945, the 黑料社区 (NCST) has become one of the premier trade schools in the Pennsylvania and Ohio area. Over the last 75 years, NCST has evolved from educating students into competent tradesmen to training students to become more sophisticated and innovative craftsmen who will be tomorrow鈥檚 highly skilled technicians.

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NEW CASTLE, Pennsylvania 鈥� 黑料社区 (NCST) is set to host one of the largest job fairs in the area with over 100 employers on April 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free to attend and open to the public. Students, guests, and exhibitors can enjoy local food trucks with various food and drinks available for purchase.

This will be the 6^th consecutive year NCST will host a major hiring event on their campus. Companies are looking to hire for various skilled trade positions. NCST offers 11 skilled trade programs in various industries, including Automotive Technology & transportation, Building Technology, Refrigeration and A/C Technology, and more.

NCST places a strong focus on student career opportunities and has developed meaningful relationships with area employers for over 75 years. According to the , approximately four million trade jobs are ready to be filled today. NCST continues to adapt its programs alongside local employers to train qualified tradespeople to fill in-demand industry job openings. PI&I Motor Express, Nick Strimbu Inc, Republic Services, and Apostolakis/Shenango Honda are among the many 2022 job fair sponsors that partner with NCST to advocate for careers in the trades.

鈥淭he signing of the bipartisan infrastructure bill will bring more than $9.7 billion into the region, creating an even greater demand for men and women in the skilled trades,鈥� said NCST President Rex Spaulding. 鈥淥ur career fair is a great opportunity to bring employers and the next generation of highly skilled employees together,鈥� he added.

Since its founding in 1945, 黑料社区 (NCST) has become one of the聽premier trade schools聽in the Pennsylvania and Ohio area. Over the last 75 years, NCST has evolved from educating students to training them to become more sophisticated and innovative craftsmen who will be tomorrow鈥檚 highly聽skilled technicians.

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All over the nation, companies are beginning to hire again in all industries and levels of management. More and more job opportunities are opening and ready to be filled. It is a small sign that things are starting to return to normal. Many companies, however, are having trouble finding applicants for open positions.

The Job Market is Booming

The Bureau of Labor Statistics 聽8.1 million jobs open in the United States as of March 2021, the most recent data available. In Ohio alone, there were just over 181,000 jobs posted to . The abundance of available job opportunities with limited applicants is due to several factors, but most notably the latest bill passed by Congress. The American Rescue Plan that passed in March adds an additional $300 weekly to people filing for unemployment benefits. Another reason some aren’t going back to work is the persisting fears of the ongoing pandemic.

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber has helped the area create projects that will generate future jobs. In 2020, the chamber formed a plan to create 3,202 jobs over the next three years. Many of these jobs will need career training and skilled trade certifications to fill. Even though the largest percentage of jobs needed in the area is healthcare positions, skilled trade jobs are not far behind.

Companies Looking to Hire

are looking to hire skilled tradesmen and women. Companies like Pennex Aluminum Co. in Leetonia and Ventra Salem along with several others throughout the surrounding Boardman and Youngstown area have a number of open positions. Some companies are even offering sign-on bonuses at this time to try and bring in more applicants. Businesses are looking for skilled workers ready to get started with a new career.

NCST has seen a tremendous increase in employers contacting us with skilled trades positions. If you are not skilled in the particular trade you are interested in and thinking about changing careers or gaining knowledge for a certain trade, let 黑料社区 in East Liverpool, Ohio help you get there!

How Can NCST Help Me?

At 黑料社区 in East Liverpool, we train individuals to begin a career in the trades. At our campus, we offer Combination Welding, Electrical & Industrial Maintenance, and HVAC-R training programs to help meet the demand for trade workers. Our training programs are taught by experienced instructors who have worked previously in their respective field. Instructors use a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training in the labs. Utilizing a combination of both ensures NCST graduates are ready for a career in the trades.

Along with career training, NCST offers students financial aid options and job placement assistance. Our career services staff will help you in all aspects of job searching, including interview prep, resume building, job application help, recruiting, and more! NCST will help you transition into the trade field as seamlessly as possible.

If you would like to learn more about the training programs offered at 黑料社区 in East Liverpool, contact us today or call 330-964-5050.

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With the job market continuing to flounder, many people find themselves out of work. 黑料社区 has campuses in New Castle, PA, and East Liverpool, OH so people can begin career training in many different trades. The present economic conditions offer the perfect opportunity to go to trade school.

Trade schools offer a wide array of vocational programs, including:

• Automotive Technology
• Combination Welding
• Commercial Truck Driving
• Machinist Technology
• Refrigeration/ AC Technology

Assistance in Finding a Job and Tuition Cost

In addition to offering such a quality line-up of marketable career training, trade schools offer graduates聽job placement assistance. The school has a pulse on the technical job market, so they know just what local employers are looking for in a new hire. Students at vocational schools are taught resume-building and interviewing skills that will give them a head start in finding an excellent job. The schools want to make their quality vocational programs accessible to all students, even those with limited finances.

NCST assists students in obtaining various measures of financial aid to those who qualify in Pennsylvania and Ohio, including:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency Grant (PHEAA)
• Federal PLUS Loan (PLUS)
• Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan (FSL)

Trade Schools also offer tuition financing for their advanced career training programs. They advise all students to complete the Free Application for聽Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as the first step on the road to financial assistance. Applicants to tech schools must pass an entrance examination. In addition, the applicant will submit an application form as well as take part in an interview. The schools use a combination of these three methods of assessment to determine which applicants are accepted.

These quality vocational programs combined with job placement assistance will place you on the path to an enjoyable and satisfying career.

Which Trade School Is For Me?

With so many choices it may be hard to decide. If you are interested in a trade school, consider 黑料社区. We have campuses in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and East Liverpool, Ohio.

Give us a call at 724-788-4417 or fill out the form on this page to learn more about our trade programs!

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Of course, all that equipment breaks down and requires maintenance. If you鈥檙e interested in keeping the tools that run the world鈥� well, running, then a career in power equipment repair may be a good match for you. Our Motorcycle and Power Equipment Technology program gives you the hands-on, practical training you need to repair and maintain:

• Chainsaws
• Riding mowers
• Tractors
• Push mowers
• Weed whackers
• Stump grinders
• Wood chippers
• Concrete saws

Power Equipment Technology Training

We provide daytime classes to give students the experience required to successfully service outdoor power equipment. This includes routine repair instruction as well as maintenance information.

Sometimes it鈥檚 not enough just to know how to service outdoor power equipment. Employers value employees knowledgeable in other business-related areas. That鈥檚 why we also provide training in:

• Technical and Applied Math
• Customer Service
• Business Management
• Job Search and Survival
• Prints and Schematics

To make sure you reach your career goals, we offer聽job placement assistance,聽resume help, and聽personal counseling鈥攑lus聽financial assistance to qualifying candidates.

Start Your Career with 黑料社区

For more than 60 years, 黑料社区 has trained students to work in a number of high-demand trades. As you can see by our resources and our employer testimonials, we are dedicated to your future!

Start your career now by calling us at 724-788-4417 or filling out the form on this page.

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