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The skilled trades sector in Hawai'i holds a unique and promising position in the state's employment landscape, offering an array of rewarding opportunities for its local workforce. These occupations not only promise competitive compensation but also provide accessible training avenues that allow individuals to earn while they learn, carving out a pathway for advancement in the industry. Presently, Hawai'i boasts a vibrant skilled trades sector consisting of 85 distinct occupations, comprising an impressive 58,470 jobs statewide, and this workforce is steadily on the rise — over half of these trades are poised for significant growth between 2018 and 2028.
The top skilled trades occupations in the state, in terms of employment volume, include:
These occupations offer substantial employment prospects in all counties across Hawai'i, underpinning the economic fabric of the islands.
As Hawai'i propels itself towards the ambitious 2045 clean energy goals, skilled trades workers are emerging as a pivotal force behind the expansion of renewable energy development, battery storage, and the enhancement of the grid infrastructure. This transition is opening up new vistas of employment opportunities, especially in the realm of clean energy, where the need for skilled trades expertise is evident. Even though many of these clean energy-focused trades are still in the process of evolving and might lack historical data, both national trends and local insights point to a substantial surge in demand and a compelling need for further training. This encompasses not only the nurturing of new talent but also upskilling the existing skilled trades workforce in Hawai'i.
In Hawai'i, candidates can embark on a multitude of skilled trades through on-the-job training, short-term certification programs, or by enrolling in one of the over 50 registered apprenticeship programs available in the state. Through these programs, aspiring tradespeople can swiftly enter the workforce, sidestepping the conventional challenges of burdensome tuition fees and post-secondary loans, as they ascend from apprentice to journeyman during their three to five-year on-the-job journey. With additional years of experience, these skilled trades workers can ascend in their careers and enhance their earning potential, often attaining supervisory roles or becoming licensed contractors.
For Hawai'i to bolster and expand its skilled trades workforce, a concerted and collaborative effort across the industry is indispensable. This effort necessitates strengthened industry-education partnerships, designed to align with shared priorities. These shared goals include enhancing early career awareness and exposure to the skilled trades among students, ensuring that candidates are equipped with the requisite skillsets to thrive in the field, which extends beyond the technical skills to include proficiency in basic mathematics and other professional skills. Moreover, addressing barriers to apprenticeship access and completion is a crucial facet of this collaborative endeavor, encompassing factors such as financial literacy, transportation, and childcare demands. In so doing, Hawai'i can truly harness the full potential of its skilled trades sector and create a robust, dynamic workforce, ready to face the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. This report, "Hawai'i Skilled Workforce Trade Analysis," delves into the intricacies of these issues, providing insights and recommendations for a brighter, more prosperous future for Hawai'i's skilled trades industry.
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