Skilled trades shortage is a growing crisis. Mark Hedstrom joins Andrew Brown to discuss workforce gaps, SkillsUSA, and trade school vs college realities.

The skilled trades shortage is no longer coming. It’s here. In this episode, Host Andrew Brown speaks with Mark Hedstrom, Executive Director of the Skilled Careers Coalition, live from the floor of the SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta. Together, they break down what students, parents, employers, and educators need to know to build a stronger trades workforce.

From trade school vs college decisions to why soft skills training is critical for long-term success, Mark shares urgent insights on how to solve the talent pipeline problem in skilled trades careers like HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, electrical, and millwrighting. This is essential listening for anyone invested in the future of the trades industry.

Whether you're a student, contractor, educator, or policymaker, this episode is packed with insight from two leading voices in the trades industry.

● (00:51) – SkillsUSA Competition: 6,000 students preparing for skilled trades careers

● (05:42) – Why the skilled trades shortage is bigger than most people think

● (12:35) – Trade School vs College: Which has better ROI in today’s economy?

● (21:08) – Soft skills training: The hidden key to success in the trades

● (30:14) – Social media’s power in trades recruitment and storytelling

● (43:49) – Mentorship, placement, and what employers must do differently

● The skilled trades shortage is projected to leave hundreds of thousands of roles unfilled in plumbing, construction, and manufacturing.

● Students need help navigating trade school vs college pathways—with clearer ROI comparisons and better exposure to career outcomes.

● Soft skills training is often the differentiator between a good hire and a great future leader in the trades.

● Employers should recruit directly from events like the SkillsUSA competition to meet top-tier young talent ready for careers in the trades industry.

Mark Hedstrom is the Executive Director of the Steel Careers Coalition, an initiative committed to solving the skilled trades shortage through national partnerships, career exploration tools, and storytelling platforms like Skills Jam. With a background in nonprofit leadership and public health, Mark is an advocate for skilled trades careers, intergenerational mentorship, and better workforce development across education, construction, and manufacturing sectors.

Skilled Trades Careers, SkillsUSA Competition, Soft Skills Training, Trade School vs College, Skilled Trades Shortage, Andrew Brown, Mark Hedstrom, Steel Careers Coalition, Skilled Trades Advisory Council, Electricians, Plumbers, Millwrights, Carpentry, HVAC, Construction, Contractors, Tradespeople, Skilled Trades, Trades Industry, Toolfetch, Craftsmanship, Creativity, Problem-solving, Education, Advocacy, Industry Experts, Mentorship, Social Media in Trades

Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhedstrom/

Website: https://skilledcareers.org/

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