WINOOSKI, Vt. — The Vermont Construction Academy (VCA) opened its doors this week to students, job seekers and industry stakeholders, highlighting new training technologies and workforce pathways aimed at addressing the state’s ongoing labor shortage in the skilled trades.
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The open house, held Monday, focused on building connections with individuals interested in construction careers while demonstrating hands-on learning opportunities. A key attraction was a state-of-the-art excavator simulator developed by Caterpillar Inc., which VCA is evaluating for potential integration into its training programs.
“I've never been on an excavator before or any type of heavy equipment or machinery, so I really wasn't knowing what to expect, but it felt super realistic,” Griffin Cosgrove with ETS Staffing said.
Vermont continues to face a significant shortage of skilled trade workers, with hundreds of open positions reported annually across construction and related industries. Events like VCA’s open house are designed to expose prospective workers—particularly students—to alternative career paths that emphasize hands-on learning over traditional classroom settings.
“I've always been interested in doing hands-on work,” said Anthony Jones, a sophomore at Winooski High School. “You know, a classroom might not work for everyone.”
The excavator simulator drew strong interest from attendees, offering a realistic experience of operating heavy equipment in a controlled, safe environment. Industry leaders say such tools can play a critical role in reducing training barriers and accelerating workforce readiness.
Representatives from the Vermont Department of Labor also attended the event to promote registered apprenticeship programs, which combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction.
“You're investing in those people that are going to stay with you, they're going to learn exactly what you want them to learn to be really effective and productive and long-term employees," said Sarah Knight with the VTDL. “That's why registered apprenticeship is just such an amazing program."
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Apprenticeships have increasingly become a cornerstone strategy for addressing workforce shortages in construction, offering employers a structured pipeline for developing skilled workers while providing participants with career advancement opportunities.
VCA officials said they remain committed to engaging with prospective students and employers, noting that the academy is available to discuss its training programs with interested individuals on an ongoing basis.
As the construction industry continues to grapple with labor constraints, initiatives like VCA’s open house underscore the growing importance of technology-driven training and early career engagement in building a sustainable workforce pipeline.
Originally reported by James Maloney in NBC 5.
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