Power Design Expands Power Youth Program to Introduce High School Students to Skilled Trades

Highlights

• Power Design continued its Power Youth workforce development program for high school students.
• The weeklong initiative provides hands-on exposure to electrical, mechanical, and plumbing construction careers.
• Since launching in 2022, the program has served 77 students.
• Seven former participants have joined Power Design as apprentices.
• The program now includes students from community organizations and industry partners in addition to employees' families.

As construction employers continue addressing skilled labor shortages, workforce development programs targeting younger students are becoming an increasingly important part of recruitment strategies. Power Design is expanding its Power Youth initiative, providing high school students with direct exposure to careers in the skilled trades through hands-on learning and jobsite experiences.

Hands-On Skilled Trades Training

Power Youth is a weeklong career exploration program that introduces participants to construction occupations through practical activities and interactions with industry professionals. Students gain experience with blueprint reading, electrical work, piping systems, and other trade-related tasks while learning about careers in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing construction.

The initiative allows participants to experience construction work firsthand, offering a practical introduction to skilled trade professions before entering the workforce or pursuing postsecondary education.

Building Future Construction Talent

Originally created for children and relatives of Power Design employees, the program has expanded to include students from industry partners and community organizations, including First Tee and Junior Achievement.

Since its launch in 2022, the program has welcomed 77 students. Power Design reported that seven former participants have since entered the company's apprenticeship program, demonstrating an early pipeline from career exploration into construction employment.

The company views the initiative as part of its broader workforce development strategy aimed at attracting future electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, HVAC technicians, and other skilled craft professionals.

Why It Matters

Construction firms across the United States continue investing in early career awareness programs to address long-term workforce needs. Introducing students to skilled trades before graduation can help expand the future labor pool while increasing awareness of apprenticeship and craft career opportunities.

Programs that combine classroom learning with hands-on experience can help contractors develop stronger recruitment pipelines and support the industry's ongoing demand for qualified skilled workers.

Source: Power Design.