A Crisis in Skilled Trades Professional Ranks

About 40% of Skilled Trades Professionals nationwide are expected to leave in the next 10 years. That is about 3 Million journeymen who have been in their profession for many years. For every person entering skilled trades professional careers, five are leaving. This is creating a serious demand for people to fill these positions. The Trade Collective has been established to introduce high school students to the many high-paying careers as skilled trades professionals that do not require a college degree. 

In 2018, Neil Gamobow was appointed by Evanston’s mayor to lead the newly-formed Mayor’s Employer Advisory Council (MEAC), a volunteer organization founded to connect Evanston Township High School (ETHS) students with local careers that do not require a college degree. As chair, Neil worked closely with Evanston employers and ETHS to identify career pathways for students who do not go to or finish college.  He joined The Trade Collective in 2024.