{"id":486,"date":"2026-08-04T04:44:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T04:44:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/?p=486"},"modified":"2026-08-04T04:44:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T04:44:17","slug":"the-paths-to-high-demand-careers-in-the-skilled-trades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/?p=486","title":{"rendered":"The paths to high-demand careers in the skilled trades"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-6 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:64px;--awb-padding-top-medium:32px;--awb-padding-top-small:18px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap\">\n<div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1456px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 )\">\n<article class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-7 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:1rem;--awb-padding-right:1rem;--awb-padding-bottom:1rem;--awb-padding-left:1rem;--awb-padding-right-medium:4%;--awb-padding-left-medium:4%;--awb-padding-right-small:4%;--awb-padding-left-small:4%;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:56%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.4285714285714%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.4285714285714%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:1;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:1;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%\">\n<div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-content-tb fusion-content-tb-1 prose\" style=\"--awb-font-size:1.125rem;--awb-line-height:1.5;--awb-text-font-family:var(--awb-typography4-font-family);--awb-text-font-weight:var(--awb-typography4-font-weight);--awb-text-font-style:var(--awb-typography4-font-style)\">\n<p>Employers in skilled trades, manufacturing, defense and maritime industries are hiring now\u2014and Veteran experience often lines up perfectly with what they need. Many of these careers offer paid apprenticeships and on-the-job training, no four-year degree required. VA and the Department of Labor (DOL) are teaming up to make these paths easier to find.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why it matters<\/h2>\n<p>The U.S. faces a long-term skilled labor shortage:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>447,000 open construction jobs<\/li>\n<li>94,000 open-skilled manufacturing jobs<\/li>\n<li>174,000 more shipbuilding workers needed over the next decade<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Two April 2025 executive orders made closing this gap a federal priority: one on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/04\/preparing-americans-for-high-paying-skilled-trade-jobs-of-the-future\/\" rel=\"noopener\">preparing Americans for skilled trades<\/a>, aiming to grow Registered Apprenticeships past 1 million participants, and one on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/04\/restoring-americas-maritime-dominance\/\" rel=\"noopener\">restoring maritime dominance<\/a>. Veterans\u2019 technical training and discipline make them a natural fit.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The roundtable series<\/h2>\n<p>On June 9, VA launched a three-phase series of working sessions designed to turn employer insight into real referrals:<\/p>\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Transition and employment roundtable aligns stakeholders and sets shared goals<\/li>\n<li>Employers and workforce partners expand apprenticeship and hiring pathways<\/li>\n<li>Educators and training providers improve Veteran readiness and alignment<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Insights feed directly into VA\u2019s Veteran Readiness and Employment program, as well as Transition, Education Service, and other referral channels.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A stronger partnership<\/h2>\n<p>VA works with DOL\u2019s VETS program, its Employment Navigator and Partnership Program, and the DOL Employment and Training Administration to connect Veterans to apprenticeships and hiring events, linking VA\u2019s counseling and benefits to DOL\u2019s national employer network. This effort requires a collaborative approach with other federal agencies, non-profits and other organizations to meet the needs of Veterans entering these high demand fields.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s next?<\/h2>\n<p>Early priorities include smoother handoffs between VA and the Department of Defense, greater use of SkillBridge, expanded employer networks and better communication. Future sessions will turn these into concrete commitments.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get started!<\/h2>\n<p>More tools, resources and fact sheets to come, enabling Veterans to obtain jobs in high demand fields to include defense industrial base with efforts such as the Project Patriot Pipeline under Department of Defense.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Digital Resource Library<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/va.gov\/education\" rel=\"noopener\">va.gov\/education<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/va.gov\/careers-employment\" rel=\"noopener\">va.gov\/careers-employment<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/eta\/jobs-for-veterans-act\" rel=\"noopener\">Veterans | U.S. Department of Labor<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/vets\/programs\/tap\/employment-navigator-partnership\" rel=\"noopener\">Employment Navigator &amp; Partnership Program (ENPP) | U.S. Department of Labor<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apprenticeship.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">apprenticeship.gov<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/helmetstohardhats.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">helmetstohardhats.org<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/nextopvets.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">nextopvets.org<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/careeronestop.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">careeronestop.org<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vetjobs.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">vetjobs.org<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/career-services\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Career Services Overview \u2013 Hiring Our Heroes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/job-seekers\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Job Seekers | Hire Heroes USA<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/about.clearancejobs.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/about.clearancejobs.com\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skillbridge.mil\/static\/docs\/SkillBridge_Website_Mil_Members_DIB_Notice_20260603.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.skillbridge.mil\/static\/docs\/SkillBridge_Website_Mil_Members_DIB_Notice_20260603.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mypatriotcareer.mil\/\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.mypatriotcareer.mil\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pathtopro.com\/find-jobs\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Find Construction Jobs | Path to Pro Network<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acp-usa.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">American Corporate Partners<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/atdm.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">ATDM Defense Industrial Base<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"align-self: center;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;width:100%\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"align-self: center;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;width:100%\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-builder-row-inner fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"--awb-flex-grow:0;--awb-flex-grow-medium:0;--awb-flex-grow-small:0;--awb-flex-shrink:0;--awb-flex-shrink-medium:0;--awb-flex-shrink-small:0;width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 )\">\n<div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-4 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:64px;--awb-padding-bottom:32px;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%\">\n<div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-center fusion-content-layout-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-3 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-center fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-bottom:.5rem;--awb-margin-top-small:0px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:20px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;--awb-font-size:1.3rem\">\n<h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-center\" style=\"font-family:var(--awb-custom_typography_1-font-family);font-weight:var(--awb-custom_typography_1-font-weight);font-style:var(--awb-custom_typography_1-font-style);margin:0;font-size:1em\">Topics in this story<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-4 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-center fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-paragraph post-tags\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:0px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:20px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;--awb-font-size:1rem\">\n<p class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-center title-heading-tag\" style=\"font-family:var(--awb-custom_typography_11-font-family);font-weight:var(--awb-custom_typography_11-font-weight);font-style:var(--awb-custom_typography_11-font-style);margin:0;font-size:1em\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/tag\/jobs\/\" title=\"jobs\">jobs<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<p class=\"tni-attribution\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/148387\/paths-high-demand-careers-skilled-trades\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Benefits \u2013 VA News<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/148387\/paths-high-demand-careers-skilled-trades\/\">Benefits \u2013 VA News<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many skilled-trades careers offer paid apprenticeships and OJT, no 4-year degree required. New VA and DOL partnership shows you how to get started.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":260,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-486","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-benefits"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/486","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=486"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/486\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":735,"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/486\/revisions\/735"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}