Efforts to Close Maines Trades Gap Creates Big Opportunities for the Next Generation [Video]

PORTLAND, Maine – It was straight from high school to high altitude for Kloey Arsenault – an iron worker.“I knew I wanted to make money right off the bat,” said Arsenault.Working in the trades is a family tradition for her.“I wanted to jump right into this, and I grew up in a trades-oriented household. My father is also an ironworker, so I had that kind of childhood where I was able to understand trades. From a very young age,” said Arsenault.Helping others understanding the trades – and the opportunities they provide – is the goal of Sam Boss – who leads up apprenticeships for the Maine AFL-CIO…a federation of over 200 local labor unions.The lack of young people – combined with an aging workforce– is creating a trades gap “I think there is there’s honestly need everywhere I hear from apprenticeship directors, from all the different building and construction trades …