Assembly Resolution No. 2088

BY: M. of A. Durso

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
May 3, 2024, 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 May 3, 2024, 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 3, 2024, 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.