When they have a hammer

"They helped me change my life,"

"For many job seekers, [the] combination [of] high demand job security and a clear path to advancement is what makes the trades appealing."

"interest in going to trade schools has nearly doubled among teens and adults since 2017."

"I wanted a union that will support me as a tradeswoman,"

Rising Sun's Opportunity Build in Emeryville provides cohort-based pre-apprenticeship training that connects participants to building trades jobs. Participants have included people with criminal records, caregivers, career changers, and women without prior construction experience. Graduates receive credentials such as MC3 pre-apprenticeship certification and access to union apprenticeships and full-time roles like cement mason and pile driver. Industry demand is rising because retirements created large shortages and many job seekers value high demand, job security, and clear advancement in trades careers. Interest in trade schools has nearly doubled since 2017, boosting recruitment across generations and helping fill labor-market gaps.

Read at East Bay Express | Oakland, Berkeley & Alameda