PCCC Partners with Tech Platform to Forge Future of Skilled Trades

PATERSON, N.J. – May 14, 2026 – As the United States grapples with a severe and escalating shortage of skilled labor, one New Jersey institution is pioneering a high-tech solution to a hands-on problem. Passaic County Community College (PCCC) has announced a strategic partnership with Where Trades Go, an innovative networking platform designed to modernize recruitment and career development for the trades.

The collaboration aims to overhaul how students in PCCC's Trade Studies program connect with the workforce, moving beyond traditional paper resumes to dynamic, skill-focused digital profiles. This initiative comes at a critical time, with recent industry analyses projecting a deficit of nearly 2.1 million skilled trades positions by 2030, a gap that could cost the U.S. economy an estimated $1 trillion annually. By integrating this new technology, PCCC is not only enhancing its educational offerings but also directly confronting a national economic challenge at the community level.

Beyond the Resume: A Digital Revolution for Trades

The core of the partnership lies in the Where Trades Go platform, which abandons the limitations of text-based resumes in favor of rich media portfolios. For decades, tradespeople have struggled to convey the nuance and quality of their hands-on work—a perfectly executed weld or a complex electrical installation—on a static sheet of paper. The new platform solves this by allowing students and professionals to build profiles showcasing their skills through photos and videos of completed projects, verified certifications, and skill assessments.

"We designed the platform to support the hard work that trade schools are doing to get their students hired," said Brian Drucks, CEO and Founder of Where Trades Go. "The ecosystem that we have created will save time and resources for career placement teams so they can help more students find success than ever before." This approach creates what the company calls a "holistic view" of a tradesperson's capabilities, offering employers a far more accurate and reliable picture of a candidate's value.

The platform functions like a matchmaking service for the construction industry, connecting skilled individuals with companies seeking their specific talents. This model is a direct response to the inefficiencies of traditional hiring methods. According to a 2024 report from the Associated General Contractors of America, 94% of construction firms reported difficulty filling positions for craft workers, citing a lack of qualified applicants as a primary obstacle. By digitizing and expanding the trusted word-of-mouth networks that the trades have long relied on, the platform aims to create a more efficient and transparent pipeline from the classroom to the job site.

Tackling a National Crisis at the Local Level

The partnership represents a proactive strategy by PCCC to address the skilled trades shortage head-on. By adopting this technology, the college aims to attract a new generation of students to the trades, recruit experienced industry professionals as instructors, and dramatically improve job placement outcomes for its graduates.

"Our partnership will demonstrate the path forward for developing the trades workforce," stated Jon H. Connolly, Acting Dean of Science and Technical Studies at PCCC. "It is challenging for employers to find the skills and dispositions they need in their employees to grow their businesses. This is a game-changer for assisting them in finding the talent they need, and for young graduates who are eager to start applying their newly learned craft."

Connolly emphasized the broader impact, calling the collaboration "an example of the type of innovation and collaboration that will shape the future for New Jersey's workforce." Early results are already validating this optimism. Through community outreach at college fairs and local high schools featuring the platform, PCCC has successfully filled all 16 of its dual-enrollment seats for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year. Furthermore, six alumni of the dual-enrollment program are returning to pursue advanced American Welding Society (AWS) Level II certification, demonstrating the program's ability to foster long-term career growth.

Empowering the Next Generation of Craftspeople

Perhaps the most significant impact of the new platform is on the students themselves. PCCC is integrating Where Trades Go directly into its Welding curriculum, with new students introduced to the system during orientation. Throughout their studies, they will document milestones and achievements, building a comprehensive digital portfolio that serves as a living record of their growing expertise.

This process is designed not only to improve job prospects but also to build self-assurance. "Setting up my Where Trades Go profile was easy and empowering," said Robert Santiago, a welding student at PCCC. "Seeing all of my accomplishments on my profile is helping to build my confidence and pride in my welding work."

This sense of ownership and pride is a key objective. "Where Trades Go isn't just going to set up our students for success in their first post-grad role. Their profiles will grow with them throughout their career to help them succeed in the workforce," explained Richard Genco, Instructor and Coordinator of the Welding program. "That's more value than we've been able to give them with resume support while they're with us."

The college has set an ambitious goal of placing 100% of its Trade Studies graduates in jobs. With the welding program already boasting an impressive 90% placement rate, faculty believe this new tool will be instrumental in closing the final gap and ensuring every graduate transitions seamlessly into a rewarding career.

While the partnership between PCCC and Where Trades Go is still in its early stages, it represents a potentially transformative model for vocational education. The success of this initiative will be closely watched, as its ability to verifiably connect skilled graduates with eager employers could provide a much-needed blueprint for how educational institutions across the country can bridge the gap between training and high-demand careers.