New federal grant for Illinois aims to address workforce shortages in the trades

(The Center Square) – A new federal grant program looks to help those who want to pursue careers operating heavy machinery in Illinois.

In July, the Biden administration announced the grant as part of more that $244 million being distributed through the U.S. Department of Labor to help expand the Registered Apprenticeship system. Illinois will be receiving $8 million in federal taxpayer funding.

Eric Hill, CEO of the Youth Workforce Development Foundation, said they are teaming up with the Associated Equipment Distributors for the program.

“Our two organizations in partnership with SkillsUSA Illinois came together with a singular idea of how to help heavy equipment operators and heavy equipment dealers across the country have access to highly skilled technicians,” said Hill.

The two groups will work in Illinois to help schools provide the necessary heavy equipment training programs. They also will support career-focused Industry Pathways events, where students receive hands-on instruction and work on the diesel and heavy equipment with industry companies and laborers.

Officials said the heavy equipment supply chain is critical to the national economy but workforce shortages in diesel technicians and heavy equipment operators are expected to exceed from 24,000 to 42,000 within a decade with retirements and career changes.

Caterpillar, with at least a dozen Illinois facilities, said earlier this year that it wants its dealers to hire 40,000 new technicians in two years to stem a global shortage. The shortage is an outgrowth of the widening skills gap in the country’s labor market, as more high school students attend four-year colleges instead of trade schools.

Illinois U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, who joined the two groups to make the grant announcement at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, said community colleges will play a key role in the program.

“I really believe the future of our workforce in central and southern Illinois does not require a 4-year college degree,” said Budzinski.