{"id":8618,"date":"2026-05-13T15:22:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T19:22:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitedwaysem.org\/?post_type=impact_story&p=8618"},"modified":"2026-05-13T15:22:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T19:22:34","slug":"getting-real-with-skilled-trades","status":"publish","type":"impact_story","link":"https:\/\/unitedwaysem.org\/es\/impact-stories\/getting-real-with-skilled-trades\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting Real with Skilled Trades"},"template":"","class_list":["post-8618","impact_story","type-impact_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"details":{"featured_image":8621,"quote":"You get paid to learn; you don\u2019t go anywhere to pay to learn.","citation":"John Griffin, Underground Lineman","topic":false,"program_theme":false,"button_text":"Read More"},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_impact_story_hero","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_impact_story_hero":{"kicker_text":"United With Labor","heading":"Getting Real with Skilled Trades","summary":"","image":8621,"cta":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"Recent high school graduate Luke Butina wants to be an electrician. He joined United Way for Southeastern Michigan\u2019s Labor team at their Youth Skilled Trades Education (YSE) Day<\/a>, designed for ages 13 \u2013 19 to get a real feel for the skilled trades environment. \r\n\r\n\u201cMy dad is an electrician, and I came out to get some more knowledge,\u201d said Luke. \u201cIt\u2019s good money and AI can\u2019t take it over\u2014 at least for a while.\u201d \r\n\r\nLuke isn\u2019t alone, a 2025 poll<\/a> found that 71% of Americans are concerned AI will put too many people permanently out of work. Skilled trade professions proved more resistant<\/a> in the face of outsourcing and automation. \r\n\r\n\u201cRight now is the best time to get into trades; my local is at 100% employment,\u201d said Julius Draughan from Plumbers Local 98<\/a>. \u201cThat means; there is nobody in need of a job at my union, and they actually need more people than what they have.\u201d","":null,"settings":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_image_grid","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_image_grid":{"rows":[{"images":[{"image":8645,"override_caption":false,"caption":""},{"image":8648,"override_caption":false,"caption":""},{"image":8628,"override_caption":false,"caption":""}]},{"images":[{"image":8630,"override_caption":false,"caption":""},{"image":8649,"override_caption":false,"caption":""}]}],"force_aspect_ratio":false,"lightbox":false}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"During the morning session, several speakers shared advice on a range of in-demand professions including: DTE Field Service Representative, Electrician, Gas Technician, High Voltage Overhead Lines, HVAC, Plumber and Underground Linemen.\r\n\r\nAfter a lunch networking break, students explored several DTE service vehicles and tools outside of the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 223.<\/a>\r\n