Bring Back the Trades fair set for May 20; partners press for stronger apprenticeship pipeline

Bring Back the Trades, a hands‑on career and recruitment fair at Castleton University on May 20, is expected to draw about 1,300 students and roughly 50 businesses, and local workforce partners said at the Rutland County Workforce Investment Board meeting April 8 that the event will be a key outreach and recruitment tool.

The event “looks like right now, we have about 1,300 students signed up to go to Castleton on May 20,” said Lyle Jepsen, executive director of the Chamber and Economic Development. Organizers plan interactive exhibits, a companion app to encourage student‑employer engagement, and on‑site demonstrations; lunch will be free and the fair is scheduled to run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Why it matters: Partners said the fair offers an immediate chance to connect employers and jobseekers while underscoring longer‑term needs in the trades and health care. Employers at the meeting described chronic recruitment and retention problems — particularly for apprentices and entry‑level skilled‑trade workers — and urged better pre‑screening and training to reduce churn and improve fit.

Discussion and specifics

Karima Edwards, senior planner at the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, and other partners said the Bring Back the Trades event will serve both career…