Ohio works to remedy skilled trade shortage with incarcerated youth initiative

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio is working to remedy a shortage of skilled trade employees by providing resources for incarcerated juveniles to start careers in fields such as construction or welding once they are released.

The Ohio Department of Youth Services and Department of Commerce have partnered to educate incarcerated youth about skilled trade career opportunities. So far, the departments held an event at the Circleville Juvenile Correctional Facility in May and at the Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility in July. At the events, workers from local skilled trades taught incarcerated youth who are close to graduating about available careers and apprenticeship programs. 

“Ohio is growing leaps and bounds,” said Ohio Department of Commerce Director Sherry Maxfield. “There's lots of construction going on. We have a shortage of people in the trades for a lot of different reasons and this is a good golden ticket forward for these formerly incarcerated youth to have a career path.”

Maxfield said the two events are just the first steps in a long-term plan for the state to gain much-needed workers.

“We’re going to have to start thinking about those that are in community-based programs as well,” Maxfield said. “It’s going to take a lot of years for the effect to show up because there will be people that certainly sign up for this program. We hope they make it through their apprenticeship and go on to become a certified electrician or plumber or HVAC installer, but realistically, some will drop out, but we are thinking about the long game.”

In Ohio and across the country, skilled trades are facing an aging workforce resulting in a high demand for workers. Construction, plumbing, HVAC, electric, welding and pipefitting positions are highly sought after and offer competitive salaries even at the apprenticeship level, according to the Department of Commerce. 

After as little as five years as an apprentice, individuals in a trade can expect to earn more than twice the median income in Ohio while avoiding student debt, the Department of Commerce states. In numerous cases, if a higher education is desired, skilled trade employers will offer to pay for an individual to earn college credit toward an associate or bachelor’s degree. 

“I think a second chance is extremely important because we’re still young and still have our whole life ahead of us,” an incarcerated juvenile told the Department of Commerce. “It’s a great program, it’s definitely something to look into.”

Research shows that having a job reduces the chances of a formerly incarcerated person reoffending, and similarly finds individuals are less likely to commit crimes when they have stable, full-time employment, according to The Brookings Institution. Additionally, providing education in prison is proven to reduce recidivism rates and is associated with higher employment rates, the U.S. Department of Education claims. 

Ohio is seeing an increase in the number of incarcerated youth who are completing their high school education, according to the Department of Youth Services. During the 2023 to 2024 academic school year, 34 incarcerated juveniles in the department's facilities earned GEDs and 53 earned a high school diploma. These figures mark the highest number of high school diplomas earned in at least a decade and the highest combined number in five years, according to a spokesperson. 

Additionally, youth completed 1,307 skill certificates and 187 industry credentials. Several juveniles also earned college credit hours through Stark State College and Sinclair Community College. The Department of Youth Services funds three correctional facilities that housed a total of 411 juveniles as of June 2023.

Maxfield said while this particular project is aimed at young people who are incarcerated, the state needs more skilled trade workers and people of all ages are encouraged to consider a career in these fields. 

The state agencies will visit the Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility in August to continue their initiative and educate more incarcerated juveniles about career opportunities.