By Trevor McNally
As recently as March of this year WGME reported that one of the trade fields that was experiencing the biggest backlog of customers in Maine is plumbing, heating and cooling technicians.
“We couldn’t speak to any, they’re way too busy […] three weeks booked with customers because they need more workers,” they reported. I can attest to this myself, as it’s been fiendishly difficult to get responses from the many contractors that I’ve reached out to this year as well.
And in the months since this report, there has definitely been an increasing urgency in news reports on the matter. But certain schools like Central Maine Community College have added programs to address the growing need for young plumbers and HVAC techs in that time also, and data shows that enrollment all of Maine’s seven community colleges around the state are up by an average of 4% this fall over last year. The fact that these numbers are in sharp contrast with the rest of the country, combined with the fact that Maine is also facing record low levels of unemployment, makes these numbers significant.
But while these numbers are encouraging in a general sense, there are not yet any specific numbers on how the Maine plumbing and HVAC industries will benefit.
In addition to colleges, labor organization’s like the United Association Local 716 are always looking to increase enrollment in their apprenticeship program. Whereas community college students who are taking these vocational classes may be doing so just as a backup plan, Local 716’s apprenticeship program offers the education needed for certifications combined with an earn-while-you-learn model so that students are working toward a specific goal while earning a livable wage. The benefits of a program like this can perhaps outweigh the ones provided by community college programs.
“I would recommend it to anyone that has the drive to learn a trade and likes to use their hands,” says Joseph Mulkern who graduated from the Local 716 apprenticeship program in 2013. “And be prepared for long hours, but good pay with two retirements- pension and an annuity.”
But the question remains: can the benefits offered by these trades be enough to attract more young people to these programs? It seems only time will tell.