Ready to Enter the Trades?A Pittsburgh Step-by-Step Guide

Tucked into the Homewood neighborhood on Pittsburgh’s East End, the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh (TIP) has been doing something quietly extraordinary: taking people who have never held a power tool professionally and turning them into construction-ready workers in ten weeks — at no cost to the student.

The program targets adults who face barriers to traditional employment — people with limited work history, those returning from incarceration, young adults who didn’t find their footing in college. TIP doesn’t ask about your past. It asks about your future.

Students rotate through core construction trades: carpentry, electrical basics, plumbing fundamentals, and HVAC. By the time they graduate, they hold OSHA-10 certification and a portfolio of hands-on project work. More importantly, they have a direct line to employers who have hired TIP graduates before and will hire them again.

“We’re not just teaching skills. We’re teaching people that they belong in these rooms — on these job sites — and that this city needs what they can build.”

The construction industry in Western Pennsylvania is facing a generational shortage. Baby Boom tradespeople are retiring faster than they can be replaced. Contractors are turning down work because they can’t find qualified workers. TIP sits at the intersection of that shortage and a community that has historically been locked out of union trades.

The program’s tuition-free model is made possible through a combination of public workforce funding, philanthropic support, and employer partnerships. Students who qualify may also receive wraparound support — transportation assistance, work boots and gear, and connections to childcare resources — because TIP understands that the barriers to entering the trades aren’t always about skill. Sometimes they’re about logistics.

Graduates have gone on to union apprenticeships, contractor positions, and in several cases, their own small businesses. The ten weeks are intense. The outcomes are real.

The trades are having a moment. After decades of being dismissed in favor of four-year degrees, skilled trades are back in the conversation — and for good reason. A journeyman electrician in Pittsburgh earns between $65,000 and $90,000 a year. A licensed plumber can clear six figures. HVAC technicians are in demand everywhere. And unlike many white-collar careers, the trades can’t be outsourced or automated away.

But for many Pittsburgh residents — particularly in Black and brown communities — the path into the trades has historically been blocked. Union halls weren’t always welcoming. Pre-apprenticeship programs weren’t always visible. That is changing, and there are now multiple legitimate pathways into the trades for anyone willing to do the work.

Pre-Apprenticeship Programs

Pre-apprenticeship programs are the front door. They give you the foundational skills, certifications, and employer connections you need to enter a union apprenticeship or direct-hire position. In Pittsburgh, TIP is the most accessible option — tuition-free, located in Homewood, and with a track record of placing graduates. Pit2Work is another strong option, focused on construction and infrastructure careers.

Union Apprenticeships

A union apprenticeship is the gold standard. You earn while you learn — typically starting at 50–60% of journeyman wages and rising as you progress. Pittsburgh has active apprenticeship programs through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA), and the Carpenters Union. The A. Philip Randolph Institute has long worked to connect Black workers to these pipelines.

Community College Pathways

Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) offers certificate and associate degree programs in HVAC, electrical technology, welding, and construction management. These programs take longer than a pre-apprenticeship but provide deeper technical training and can lead to supervisory or estimating roles. Financial aid is available.

“The trades offer something rare in today’s economy: a career path where your hands build your future — and where experience compounds into real wealth over time.”

Workforce Development Organizations

The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Urban League both offer workforce development services including resume help, interview prep, and job placement. These organizations have relationships with employers across the trades and can help navigate the application process. TradeUp Pittsburgh specifically focuses on connecting young adults — ages 17 to 24 — to skilled trade careers and pre-apprenticeship programs.

Six Steps from Curiosity to Career

Follow this sequence. Each step builds on the last. There is no shortcut — but there is a clear path.

In the 1960s, many African Americans faced significant barriers entering construction unions and skilled trade careers. Although Pittsburgh was known for building America’s infrastructure, many Black workers were excluded from some of the best-paying opportunities in the building trades.

“If Pittsburgh was going to be built, Black workers deserved the opportunity to help build it.”

Fighting for a Place at the Table

Nate Smith and fellow activists demanding inclusion at Pittsburgh construction sites

Smith organized protests and demonstrations demanding greater opportunities for Black workers in construction. His activism brought attention to major construction projects where Black workers were underrepresented — including Three Rivers Stadium and the U.S. Steel Tower.

Through organizing efforts, including the creation of Operation Dig, Smith helped train and prepare African American workers for careers in heavy equipment operation and construction. His efforts contributed to broader workforce initiatives, including what became known as The Pittsburgh Plan — which pushed for greater inclusion of Black workers in construction jobs and apprenticeship opportunities.

Nate Smith in conversation with Pittsburgh community and labor leaders

Nate Smith at Operation Dig headquarters, 130 Larimer Ave — the program he founded to train Black workers for construction careers

More Than a Labor Fight

For Smith, the battle was about more than employment. It was about economic independence. A skilled trade career could provide a steady income, benefits, a path to homeownership, the ability to support families, and opportunities for future generations. Smith recognized that jobs were connected to power and opportunity.

A Legacy Still Being Built

Today, Pittsburgh continues to face questions about workforce access and economic mobility. Organizations such as the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh are creating new pathways into skilled careers, helping students and workers gain the skills needed for today’s economy.

The challenges facing workers have evolved, but the conversation remains connected to Smith’s original fight: Who has access to opportunity? Who gets the chance to build? And who gets to benefit from the growth of the region they helped create?

“Nate Smith’s legacy is not only found in the history books. It can be seen every time a new worker enters a trade, earns a living wage, and begins building a future.”