TradesBridge

TradesBridge

Bridging the next generation to the skilled trades

Launching in Washington and Idaho · Growing nationwide · Free to participate

Our mission

TradesBridge helps high school seniors and young adults find a place in the skilled trades. We connect them with local businesses for a day of shadowing, then help them go further if the trade is a fit. Mentorship. A paid apprenticeship. A real career.

We’re a nonprofit. It’s free for the young person, and free for the trade business. Our aim is to help the next generation find work they can build a life on, and to give the trades a clear pipeline to the workers they need.

Why we exist

92%of construction firms can’t find enough qualified workers. 45% say those shortages are directly delaying their projects. The average tradesperson is 41 years old, and roughly one in five is 55 or older. The workforce is aging out faster than it’s being replaced.

Meanwhile, 42% of Gen Z say they’re working in or pursuing a skilled trade job. One in three American adults now recommend trade school over college for graduating high school seniors. The demand is real on both sides.

What’s missing is the bridge between them. Most high school seniors have never spent an hour with a working electrician or plumber. They don’t know what a real day looks like. They don’t know what the pay is. They don’t know that a good tradesperson can build a house, save for retirement, and raise a family without a four-year degree.

That’s why TradesBridge exists.

Sources: AGC 2025 Workforce Survey, Associated Builders and Contractors 2026 outlook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ASA / Harris Poll June 2025, Resume Builder / Pollfish May 2025. Read the full context on our About page.

I want to try a trade

Spend a day at a real local shop and see what a plumber, electrician, welder, or carpenter actually does. No cost. No commitment. No test at the end.

Sign up as a participant →

I run a trade business

Meet young people who've raised their hand for your trade specifically. Host them for a day. If one turns out to be a fit, they can apply for a paid apprenticeship at your shop. No fees, ever.

Sign up as a business →

How it works for you

Start to finish, in six steps. Every one is free.

  1. 1. Create a free account.
    Takes about five minutes. If you're under 18, your parent gets an email link to sign off before anything else happens.
  2. 2. Pick up to five trades you're curious about.
    Plumbing, electrical, HVAC, welding, carpentry, auto repair, and more as we grow. Each pick is a request for a day of shadowing at a real local shop.
  3. 3. A local business proposes dates.
    Anywhere from 2 to 5 days that work for their crew. You pick the one that works for you. If none of them work, ask for more and they'll send another round.
  4. 4. Show up. Watch. Ask questions.
    You don't touch the tools. You watch a working professional for a day and see what the trade actually looks like up close.
  5. 5. Rate the day. Notes are optional.
    The business doesn't see your rating. Only the TradesBridge team sees both sides, so we can catch problems early.
  6. 6. Decide your next step.
    Not for you? Try another trade. Loved it? Apply for a paid apprenticeship at the same business. We hand the application over. The rest is between you and them.

How it works for your business

Seven steps. You're in control the whole way.

  1. 1. Set up a free business profile.
    Tell us what trades you cover, what a day at your shop looks like, and how many people you can host at once. Pay range, benefits, and advancement path so young people can see if you're a fit.
  2. 2. We review and approve you.
    Light vetting protects everyone. You'll see the status change on your dashboard when it happens. Usually a day or two.
  3. 3. A curious young person picks your trade.
    You'll see them in your inbox with their name, city, availability, and a short bio. They chose your trade specifically.
  4. 4. Accept by proposing 2 to 5 dates.
    Pick days that work for your crew. They pick one from your list. If none work, they'll ask for more and you send another round.
  5. 5. Host the day.
    Walk them through what a real day looks like. Shadowing is observation only, so you're not training or supervising. Even a single afternoon counts.
  6. 6. Rate the day. Notes are optional.
    Only the TradesBridge team sees both sides. The participant doesn't see your rating.
  7. 7. They might apply for a paid apprenticeship.
    If you say yes, you pick a start date. It has to be on or after they graduate high school. No recruiting fees, no commission, ever.
Or browse the trades we work with →