This commentary is by Joshua Reap, of Candia, New Hampshire. Reap is the board president of the Vermont Construction Academy, where he helps lead efforts to expand hands-on construction education and credential-based workforce training across the state. He also serves as the president and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors of New Hampshire/Vermont (ABC NH/VT), advocating for workforce development, opportunity in the trades and policies that support a strong, skilled construction industry.
We’re facing a workforce crisis: thousands of open jobs in the trades, and not enough people trained to fill them.
On one side, we have thousands of job openings across the skilled trades — positions in carpentry, electrical, HVAC and more — offering strong wages, long-term security and a clear path for advancement. On the other side, we have young adults uncertain about their future, displaced workers needing to retool and an aging generation of tradespeople preparing to retire.
The Vermont Construction Academy was built to bridge that gap.
With multiple pathways into the workforce — whether it’s our boot camps, registered apprenticeships or custom, off-site technical trainings — the academy is helping to redefine what career success looks like.
We’re doing it at a critical time, when traditional education systems, especially public career and technical education centers are simply unable to serve the number of people who want to build a better future with their hands and minds.
We believe the trades deserve a seat at the table — not just because we need buildings built or roads paved, but because we also need problem solvers, creative thinkers and lifelong learners who understand how to lead, collaborate and show up with purpose. The academy doesn’t just teach technical skills. We develop the social skills, teamwork and integrity needed to thrive in today’s economy.
The truth is, our economy is changing faster than anyone can keep up.
As artificial intelligence begins to disrupt a variety of industries — from legal and financial services to media and customer support — the trades are emerging as a future-proof career path. You cannot replace a plumber with an algorithm. You cannot patch drywall with a chatbot. The construction industry is — and will remain — one of the most knowledge-driven, human-powered sectors of the workforce. In Vermont, we’re doubling down on that.
The latest workforce report from Associated Builders and Contractors National ranked New Hampshire among the top four states in the country for lowest construction unemployment in June. Much like our neighbors to the east, this report shows Vermont not far behind — and with the work we’re doing through the Vermont Construction Academy, we’re on track to close that gap even further.
We’re not just talking about it. We’re building real momentum.
Under the leadership of Ross Lavoie, the academy has expanded real-world, hands-on training opportunities. Ross regularly brings in industry experts to work directly with students, giving them the chance to learn by doing — welding, roofing, framing and more — all under the guidance of professionals actively working in the field.
These immersive experiences are what set the academy apart. Our boot camps are upskilling students, veterans and career changers alike. We’re building partnerships with contractors who are eager to hire. We’re reaching individuals who have long been underserved or overlooked by traditional systems because that’s what the workforce actually needs.
We don’t do it alone.
Everything we do at the Vermont Construction Academy is grounded in our core values:
- Professional: We uphold the highest of standards in everything we do — from our teaching to our safety protocols.
- Initiative: We teach our students to take ownership of their success.
- Teamwork: We believe in building trust, shared responsibility, and strong site culture.
- Integrity: We hold ourselves accountable to quality, safety and doing the right thing, even when no one’s watching.
- Innovation: We embrace progress — new tools, new training models and new ways to meet workforce demand.
- Work ethic: We demonstrate determination, grit and ambition every single day.
We’re not waiting for someone else to solve the labor shortage. We’re solving it here in Vermont, one student at a time.
Beyond solving a workforce challenge, we’re also changing hearts and minds about what it means to “make it” in this world. Not every student needs a four-year degree to find purpose. Not every graduate needs to move to a city to find opportunity. Not every family needs to carry the burden of debt to feel pride in their future.
At Vermont Construction Academy, we offer something different. Something real. Something lasting.
It’s time to rethink what success looks like — and start investing in the workforce we actually need.
