Pittsburgh-area high school students are gaining a new pathway to careers in the skilled trades through a welding pre-apprenticeship program launched at Industrial Arts Workshop (IAW) in Hazelwood, backed by a $250,000 investment from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Nancy A. Walker visited the workshop to celebrate the program’s launch and meet its first cohort of pre-apprentices, who will receive hands-on training designed to prepare them for high-demand, family-sustaining careers.
The program is expected to serve at least 15 high school students annually, connecting classroom learning with practical experience and opportunities to enter the skilled trades.
Building Skills and Career Opportunities
With support from the department’s Schools-to-Work initiative, the program will provide students with industry-recognized welding certifications, career counseling, exposure to employment opportunities, and access to supportive services for up to one year after graduation.
Iron Workers Local 3 and U.S. Steel are sponsoring the program, helping connect students’ training with the skills and experience employers need.
For young people exploring career options beyond a traditional four-year college pathway, pre-apprenticeship programs can offer an opportunity to develop marketable skills, gain industry exposure, and prepare for further apprenticeship training.
“We’re grateful to be able to offer our students this opportunity. Every day at IAW we see the hard work that young people are putting into developing themselves, their skills, and their futures.”
— Maura Bainbridge, Assistant Director, Industrial Arts Workshop
Bainbridge added that the pre-apprenticeship designation and support from program sponsors help validate the students’ work and demonstrate its value beyond the workshop.
State Investment in Pennsylvania’s Workforce
The program is part of a broader effort by Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration to expand workforce development and apprenticeship opportunities across Pennsylvania.
Since January 2023, the Commonwealth has increased its annual workforce development investment by 60 percent, from $118 million to $193 million. During that period, the state has registered 286 new apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs and enrolled more than 32,300 new apprentices and pre-apprentices.
Nearly 47,000 Pennsylvanians have participated in registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs during that time, according to the Department of Labor & Industry.
The administration has also invested more than $15 million in the Schools-to-Work program since January 2023, with nearly 2,000 students enrolling in its programming.
“Seeing these students take their first steps toward careers in the skilled trades is a powerful reminder of why investments in workforce development matter.”
— Secretary Nancy A. Walker, PA Department of Labor & Industry
Connecting Pittsburgh’s Young People to the Future
Industrial Arts Workshop’s new program underscores the importance of partnerships among educators, community organizations, labor, industry, and government in creating pathways to employment.
By combining hands-on instruction with industry-recognized credentials and career support, the initiative aims to help students move from learning new skills to pursuing meaningful employment.
For Pittsburgh and the surrounding region, the program represents another investment in preparing the next generation of skilled workers while connecting young people with opportunities in industries that need their talent.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.