Jane Winik Sartwell at The Raleigh (North Carolina) News & Observer reports there's nothing like the satisfaction of flicking on a light switch you wired yourself, says Conner Piotrowski. At just 18 years old, the Raleigh native trained to become an Electrician through a Pre-Apprenticeship. Electrical work is deeply satisfying for Piotrowski - the open-ended problem-solving, the challenge of getting the wiring perfectly neat, the everyday visibility of the work, the diligence required. Even at his young age, Piotrowski found his more experienced Co-Workers "will respect you if you just ask questions and show you're willing to learn and do stuff directly." Piotrowski is part of a trend. The number of young North Carolinians in a Pre-Apprenticeship has increased 55% over the last three years, according to ApprenticeshipNC, the Agency through which all Apprenticeships in North Carolina are registered. The number of employers taking on those Pre-Apprentices has increased 35%. Regular Apprenticeships too have gained momentum in the State. The Skilled Trades are having a moment. Piotrowski thought he wanted to be an Engineer, like his Dad - until the Coronavirus Pandemic hit. He was only in middle school then. "Sitting behind a desk on a computer all day - I just couldn't do it," Piotrowski said. "I needed to be up and moving, not just staring at a blank wall." According to national data, there are 9,704 active Apprentices in North Carolina managed by ApprenticeshipNC. That represents a 65% increase from 10 years ago. Nearly half are 24 or younger.

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