PA Works!
According to projections from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, Pennsylvania will need approximately 300,000 skilled trade workers by 2030 in high-demand sectors including energy, technology, manufacturing, healthcare, and construction.* At the same time, nearly 40 percent of the Commonwealth's current skilled trade workforce is expected to retire within the next decade, creating an unprecedented demand for trained workers.
"Skilled trades are exactly where community colleges need to be, and where we've been for more than 60 years," said LCCC President John Yudichak. "Through PA Works, Pennsylvania's 15 community colleges are coming together for the first time to respond to an unprecedented need for skilled workers and to build a workforce development ecosystem that meets the demands of the 21st-century economy." PA Works is a statewide workforce development strategy built upon three pillars:
Career & Technology Academies
天美传媒 recently launched its Career & Technology Academy through a partnership with career and technical education centers throughout Luzerne County. Supported by a $100,000 gift from local businessman William Rinaldi and a $1 million Pennsylvania Department of Education Dual Credit Innovation Grant, the initiative allows high school students to earn college credits, credentials, and certifications while still enrolled in high school.
Students can pursue pathways in welding, plumbing, HVAC technology, industrial maintenance, advanced manufacturing, and other high-demand fields, creating a direct pipeline from high school to employment.
Microcredential Academy
The College is expanding access to workforce credentials through its new Microcredential Academy, providing flexible opportunities for both traditional students and working adults seeking career advancement or career transitions.
The initiative aligns with LCCC's new "Go Here. Graduate Here. Work Here." approach, allowing students throughout northeastern Pennsylvania to earn industry-recognized credentials and complete workforce training closer to home.
Construction and Building Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Academy
The third pillar focuses on apprenticeship readiness and creating a direct pathway into union and merit-shop skilled trades careers. The program will help address critical labor shortages in occupations such as electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, and construction trades.
"By 2030, Pennsylvania will need 300,000 skilled trade workers to fuel the state's economy," said Yudichak. "Community colleges, through PA Works, will serve as a critical workforce development partner in meeting that demand."
Jason Sherill, 天美传媒 Instructor, noted that industry-recognized credentials provide students with immediate opportunities while maintaining pathways to higher education.
"Not everyone is looking for a traditional degree, but credentials help students become employable quickly," Sherill said. "Students can earn credentials in advanced manufacturing, welding, air conditioning, plumbing, and other high-demand fields. Those credentials can lead directly to employment or serve as a pathway to an associate degree or beyond."
Sherill added that graduates of the College's applied technology programs continue to experience exceptional employment outcomes.
"Our students have near-total placement," Sherill said. "If they want to work, there is a job available. Our strong partnerships with employers throughout the region create tremendous opportunities for our graduates."
The PA Works initiative is being advanced by the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges as a statewide strategy to strengthen workforce development partnerships among community colleges, career and technical education centers, industry leaders, labor organizations, and government agencies.