SEAA Participates in Skilled Trades Coalition

SEAA, which is a member of the Skilled Trades Coalition, recently attended the second formal meeting of the newly established group. The organization’s members include the American Welding Society, American Institute of Steel Construction, and more than a dozen others.

“The group consists of manufacturing, fabrication, and construction associations, which have come together to tackle similar challenges in recruiting qualified workers to their respective specialties,” said Tom Underhill, SEAA Executive Director, who attended the meeting held at AISC headquarters in Chicago.

“By working together for the long-term, we hope to begin reaching students during middle school, and to educate parents and school counselors regarding post-secondary training and career options in our fields,” he said. While funding for the group’s program has yet to be identified, task groups reported on their activities.

The group continues to work toward establishing formal governance. The American Welding Society has served as secretariat of the group during for past two years. AISC will assume that role for the next two years. Meanwhile, the group has identified four demographics which will be the primary focus of future activities: high school students, high school graduates that are seeking a new career path, women and m minorities, and under-employed people.