Introduction

This report presents the findings from the Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA) Skilled Trades Study. This study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 involved using existing labor and education databases to provide a preliminary analysis of the scope and magnitude of the problems associated with meeting the demand for skilled trades workers in Virginia. Phase 2 involved surveying Virginia manufacturers to obtain primary data on skilled trades employment, evaluate potential refinements in the occupational categories used to define skilled trades, and compile information on various hiring and training issues.

This study was commissioned by the Virginia Manufacturers Association through a grant from the Virginia Workforce Council and in cooperation with the Virginia Manufacturing Advisory Council, an ad hoc group of representatives from private sector employers, Virginia’s Commerce and Trade Secretariat, Virginia Tech, the Virginia Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the Virginia Employment Commission, and the Virginia Manufacturers Association. The analysis presented in this report also benefited greatly from advice and direction provided by the Virginia Manufacturing Advisory Council’s Skilled Trades Committee. This project would not have been possible without the support of former Secretary of Commerce & Trade Mike Schewel, Virginia Employment Commissioner Dee Esser and Senior Advisor to the Governor for Workforce Danny LeBlanc. Further, it should be recognized that former Governor Mark Warner and current Governor Tim Kaine expended funds for this project from the Governor’s discretionary funds included in the Virginia Workforce Investment Act.

The remainder of this report is divided into four sections. The Background section provides information that frames the issues surrounding skilled trades employment within the manufacturing sector and explains the important role that these jobs play in promoting Virginia’s continued economic prosperity. The Phase 1: Empirical Analysis section presents findings from Phase 1 of the study. The Phase 2: Survey of Virginia Manufacturers section presents findings from Phase 2 of the study. This is followed by a Conclusions section that draws together and distills the major findings from the preceding sections.