Joseph Merlino is the Vice President of Pleasantville, New Jersey-based Bayshore Rebar and a former Ironworker.  He recently penned an Opinion Piece for Construction Dive where he said: “Young people need more paths to the Trades.”  Here’s what he wrote, in part: It is more important now than ever to raise awareness for careers in construction.  Our young generation is not considering construction a viable career option.  Regrettably, non-traditional career paths are often not presented to young people graduating high school today as a viable and lucrative alternative to college.  Lack of awareness and a plan to build a pipeline of Workers continues to disrupt the industry.  Apprenticeships are a proven path to secure careers - almost nine out of 10 Apprentices are employed after completing their programs with an average starting wage above $50,000, according to the Department of Labor.  I have been fortunate to have a steady supply of skilled labor for my Construction Company thanks to my background as an Ironworker and connection to Iron Workers Locals in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, which have excellent Registered Apprenticeship Programs and train the next generation of Skilled Ironworkers.  There’s more than one path to success.  We simply need to do better at promoting technical training and Trades at the middle and high school levels to give them choices, so that these young people can find, and prosper, in these well-paying and fulfilling careers in construction.

To Read Merlino’s Apprenticeship Op-Ed In Its Entirety, Go To: My career success started with an apprenticeship | Construction Dive

Photo Courtesy Of The Ironworkers International Website.