Where are the contractors?

County faces lack of skilled workers

By Zoey McGee | Manor Ink

Sullivan County, NY – The shortage of skilled tradespeople is hitting this county hard, mirroring a nationwide issue that has left contractors, electricians and builders struggling to find qualified workers. Local industry professionals say the lack of young people entering the field, combined with an aging workforce, has created the void of getting qualified people.

Jim Cutroni, a contractor located in Mongaup Valley, has seen the problem firsthand. Before COVID, he had 15 skilled tradesmen. “Now, I have one,” he said. “I’ve tried working with BOCES to hire, but it hasn’t moved the needle for me.”

‘A hard-to-recruit area’

Companies like Spectrum, which has tried to recruit in the area, say hiring remains a significant challenge. “While we have attended career fairs in Sullivan County, we have experienced minimal foot traffic at these events, making it a challenging area to recruit in,” a Spectrum representative said. “Despite utilizing resources like Indeed and Geo-Fencing, and welcoming employee referrals, Sullivan County remains a hard-to-recruit area, reflecting the broader shortage of skilled tradespeople.”

For Mike Vurkey of Ross Electric in Liberty, the shift in people moving away from joining the trades has been a drastic change. He started in the business 30 years ago, after attending Delhi College. Back then, there was a waiting list of applicants eager to join as “helpers” on their path to becoming technicians. Now, he says, that is no longer the case. “It’s hard to find people,” Vurkey noted.

Another concern is the aging workforce and the knowledge gap it will leave behind. Pia Annunziata, a Sullivan County electrician, worries about what will be lost when older tradespeople retire.

“We’re going to end up eventually having a lack of knowledge, a dip in the knowledge around us. Not just concerning old systems, but also in the tricks of the trade,” Annunziata said. “There’s always a better way to do things, certain tips that get passed down. When I started ten years ago, the average person working was in their 40s. Now, those people are in their 50s, and within another 10 years, they’ll be retiring. We’re definitely going to have a shortage.”

A shortage of skilled craftspeople

Gary Dimatteo of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers LU363 agrees. “I see more of a shortage of qualified people. There are plenty of hands to do the work, but some of them are young journeymen or people just getting into the trade. But there’s definitely a shortage of skilled, high-level craftsmen,” he said, “and by the youth wanting to get into the trade, that’s what will fill that void.”

Many interviewees pointed to a significant shift in education that has steered young people away from the trades. Annunziata emphasized the lack of awareness.

“Since the demand is going up and up, you could make more money working in the trades than if you got a college degree. Schools don’t push the trades at all. When I was in school, no one mentioned working as a mechanic, carpenter or electrician. Schools heavily pushed college, and now it’s caught up to us. We’re feeling the gap.”

A lack of exposure to trades

Vurkey believes the decline is due in part to fewer young people being exposed to trade work. Family members used to bring kids along on jobs, but insurance restrictions make that harder now. Schools also don’t offer the same exposure they once did.

Dimatteo noted that many guidance counselors lack the knowledge to guide students toward trade careers. “In most public schools, the guidance counselors do not know how to market or advise or guide the people that want to get into the trades. I’ve asked guidance counselors to visit our union hall to see how we train and select people,” he said. “Any time I bring a young person down, they immediately say, ‘Sign me up.’ But not many people get that exposure.”

“We need to show kids at a young age that this is a great career,” said Roger Broome, a local architect. “A good electrician or plumber can make a very comfortable living. The problem is, no one is telling them that.”

Programs like BOCES exist, but some feel they aren’t being leveraged effectively. “There needs to be a push, whether from schools, parents or local businesses, to encourage kids to explore these careers,” Vurkey said. “And that includes girls, too – there’s no reason they shouldn’t be getting into the trades.”

Dimatteo goes to several career fairs with the IBEW to introduce more students to the opportunities in trades. “We expose kids to what we do,” he said. “We let them try bending conduits and other hands-on activities. If we can turn even one or two kids toward a trade, that’s a success.”

Free electrical trades course offered

Building upon the popularity and success of construction, auto repair, security guard and welding courses offered in the last two years, Sullivan County’s Center for Workforce Development and Sullivan BOCES have teamed up once again to offer a free course – this time in the electrical trades – to up to 15 local residents.

“I thank the Legislature for devoting funding to our fifth initiative to provide local workers with practical, career-building skills,” said CWD Director Loreen Gebelein. “Graduates of this program will learn the skills necessary to be immediately employable in jobs involving electrical equipment and installation.”

The 10-week program is being administered by the CWD, part of the Division of Community Resources. Open to county residents who are 18 or older, possess a high school diploma/GED and have reliable transportation, classes will start Tuesday, Mar. 25, and will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at SUNY Sullivan in Loch Sheldrake. A background check and fingerprinting are required, with that cost to be borne by the participant.

“This is hands-on training at our local college, and graduates of this program will be ready to work in an in-demand field,” said Community Resources Commissioner Laura Quigley. “I encourage anyone interested to contact us right away, as only 15 spots are available for this course.”

To find out more or to apply, contact the Center for Workforce Development at 845-794-3340, ext. 0620.

Why college is not for me

By Zoey McGee | Manor Ink

For the past few decades, college has been pushed as the first step in the path to success. As a result, the idea of not attending college is often looked down upon, creating the false belief that a degree guarantees prosperity. But the truth is, earning a degree doesn’t automatically lead to success, just as skipping college doesn’t mean failure.

In reality, nearly half of college graduates don’t even end up working in their field of study. For many, those four years become nothing more than a debt-inducing waste. Even those who do enter their chosen career field often spend years in school taking courses that have little to do with their profession. A computer technician, for example, could gain more valuable skills working in a repair shop than by sitting through unrelated general education class requirements.

The widely accepted narrative is that more education equals a better future. But this simply isn’t true. The idea that a four-year degree is the only path to success has been treated as fact when, in reality, success comes from hard work, growth and ambition. Things no diploma can guarantee. Some of the world’s most successful people didn’t get where they are because of college, but because of their drive and determination.

Despite this, enrolling in trade careers is still not widely encouraged in high schools, nor by many parents and career counselors. The trades are often seen as a “backup plan” for students who supposedly don’t meet the arbitrary standards of higher education. But that mindset needs to change. The trades should be recognized as a legitimate, rewarding path for anyone, including those who would excel in college, but simply prefer a different kind of work.

Society tends to judge those who make a living through physical labor, seeing white-collar jobs as more prestigious. But the reality is all jobs require selling a skill. Whether that skill is in plumbing, masonry, medicine or law, each profession plays an essential role in our world. Hard work and expertise, no matter the field, should be valued equally.

To address the shortage of skilled tradespeople, we need a smarter approach to workforce development. One that doesn’t automatically push every student toward a four-year degree. Schools should expose students to all career paths, including hands-on trades. This means bringing back shop classes like mechanics, woodworking and metalworking, which have largely disappeared due to budget cuts. These classes are just as crucial as traditional subjects, because schools should prepare students for all types of futures, not just college-bound ones.

Programs like BOCES are already making a difference. A majority of LMCS’s 11th and 12th graders attend BOCES daily, learning skills that will be very valuable in the field. However, the goal isn’t to push students toward or away from any specific path; it’s to ensure they understand that there are multiple ways to build a successful career.

From an early age, I knew college wasn’t for me. Fortunately, my parents never pressured me into higher education. They recognized the value of the trades and supported my decision to follow a different path.

I’ve never thrived in environments that require sitting still and doing mentally exhausting work. I wanted a career where I could be active, build things and see tangible results. After helping my dad with some electrical work, I realized that becoming an electrician was the perfect balance of hands-on labor and problem solving.

But choosing a trade doesn’t mean limiting myself. Being an electrician will provide me with a stable income, but it won’t define everything I do. I can still write, create pottery and pursue other passions. And if I ever change my mind about college? It’s never too late. My mother went back to nursing school at 50.

The bottom line is that the idea of a successful person is a mindset. Anyone can be successful as long as they find what is meant for them.

Zoey McGee is Manor Ink’s editor-in-chief and a high school senior.