K 445: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in the State of New York

 Assembly Resolution No. 445 BY: M. of A. Durso MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor skilled trades professionals and the critical role they play in the development of the State of New York; these talented and hard-working men and women are an asset beyond remuneration and cannot be sufficiently extolled; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim Wednesday, May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Skilled Trades Day; and WHEREAS, National Skilled Trades Day aims to raise awareness about the benefit of skilled trades jobs in the State of New York and throughout the United States; and WHEREAS, Across the Nation, many businesses are facing a huge dilemma, there are more skilled trades job openings than there are people to fill them; according to Forbes, over 53% of workers employed in a skilled trade are nearing retirement age and only 1 in 5 students graduating from high school have shown an interest in trade jobs; and WHEREAS, Over the last 30 years, parents have encouraged children to attend colleges or universities after graduating from high school, neglecting to embrace the value found in skilled trades; when these students graduate from college, they are often faced with crippling debt and a job market that simply is not hiring; and WHEREAS, On the other hand, trades jobs often only require a certificate for employment, meaning that those looking to go into trade jobs will face little to no debt when they enter the workforce, and they can enter the workforce much sooner than their college student counterparts; and WHEREAS, Skilled trade jobs often offer excellent pay as a means to meet the demand for these jobs, as well as benefits and healthcare; and WHEREAS, Skilled Trades Day was founded by City Machine Technologies, Inc. which is currently facing a labor shortage since mechanically inclined workers are becoming harder and harder to find; and WHEREAS, Sixty-two percent of employers representing the trade industry have reported struggling to find individuals to fill important skilled trade positions, raising concerns about the future employment levels of the trades as a whole; and WHEREAS, Skilled Trades Day was established to inform individuals and raise awareness of the benefits of being a skilled laborer, and recruit and retain skilled workers to fulfill the need for the industry's future workforce requirement; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York.