The paths to high-demand careers in the skilled trades
Employers in the skilled trades, manufacturing, defense and marine industries are hiring now – and veterans’ experience is often a perfect match for what they need. Many of these careers offer paid apprenticeships and on-the-job training, no four-year degree required. VA and the Department of Labor (DOL) are teaming up to make finding these pathways easier.
Why it matters
The US is facing a long-term skilled labor shortage:
- 447,000 open construction jobs
- 94,000 open skilled manufacturing jobs
- In the next decade, another 174,000 workers are needed in shipbuilding
Two executive orders in April 2025 made closing this gap a federal priority: one on prepares Americans for skilled tradeswith the aim of increasing the number of registered apprentices over 1 million participants, and one more restoring naval dominance. Veteran technical training and discipline make them naturals.
Series of round tables
On June 9, VA launched a three-phase series of work sessions designed to turn employer insights into real recommendations:
- The Round Table on Transition and Employment aligns stakeholders and sets common goals
- Employers and workforce partners are expanding pathways to apprenticeships and employment
- Educators and training providers improve veteran readiness and compliance
Insights feed directly into VA’s Veterans Readiness and Employment Program, as well as Transition, Education Service and other referral channels.
A stronger partnership
VA works with DOL’s VETS program, its Employment Navigator and Partnership Program, and DOL’s Employment and Training Administration to connect veterans with apprenticeships and employment programs, connecting VA’s counseling and benefits with DOL’s national employer network. This effort requires a collaborative approach with other federal agencies, nonprofits, and other organizations to meet the needs of veterans entering these high-demand areas.
What’s next?
Early priorities include smoother handoffs between VA and DoD, greater use of SkillBridge, expanded employer networks, and better communication. Future sessions will turn them into concrete commitments.
Get started!
More tools, resources and fact sheets will be coming, allowing veterans to land jobs in high-demand areas, including the defense industrial base with efforts like the Defense Department’s Patriot Pipeline Project.
