By: Karyn Charvat, Private-Sector Co-Chair of Choose DuPage and Executive Director of PowerForward DuPage
A strong economy depends on businesses willing to invest and on skilled workers who can build, maintain and power the places where that investment takes shape. In DuPage County, the building trades support growth across commercial and industrial construction, healthcare, infrastructure, residential development and the technologies that keep businesses operating.
For individuals seeking a rewarding career, the trades offer a path to long-term professional success without requiring a traditional four-year college degree. Illinois has roughly 24,947 active apprentices, approximately 80% of whom work in construction. Registered apprenticeship programs in the industry form what has been described as Illinois’ largest privately financed system of higher education. They prepare participants for careers in the field and can open paths to field management, construction management and business ownership.
The opportunity, and the need, is significant. PowerForward DuPage recognized several years ago that skilled tradespeople were retiring faster than young adults were entering the industry. In response, it created the DuPage County Trade Apprenticeship Expo to introduce high school students, post-graduates and young adults to careers in the building trades. Now in its seventh year, the Expo gives attendees the opportunity to meet directly with apprenticeship training directors representing more than a dozen trade affiliates. The 2025 Expo attracted more than 800 attendees from throughout the county.
The growing interest in these career pathways extends beyond DuPage County. Recently, a record-breaking 1,300 students, educators, parents and community members registered for the Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO)’s 5th Annual Union Construction Trades Fair. The strong turnout demonstrates the increasing interest in union construction careers and apprenticeship opportunities throughout northern Illinois—and the potential to introduce a new generation of workers to careers that can support both personal prosperity and the region’s economic growth.
Other initiatives are helping expand awareness of these career opportunities. Through PowerForward DuPage’s Tour the Trades Day, educators and career counselors from DuPage-area high schools visit local apprenticeship training centers, learn about their programs and bring that information back to their students. The program reached a record number of participants this year, with attendance capped at 75. PowerForward DuPage has also partnered with KidsMatter on its Summer Springboard Series, giving students a hands-on introduction to the construction trades through classroom instruction, visits to trade affiliates, practical activities and a live job-site experience.
A stronger pipeline into the trades is an investment in DuPage County’s economic future. As businesses expand and development advances, the supply of skilled workers will play a larger role in the region’s competitiveness. Connecting young people with trade careers while giving employers access to a highly trained workforce strengthens both the county’s infrastructure and the workforce needed to sustain its growth.
Karyn Charvat is the Private-Sector Co-Chair of Choose DuPage and Executive Director of PowerForward DuPage. Representing over 400 electrical contractors and over 1,600 electricians, PowerForward DuPage’s purpose is to ensure that companies and individuals have access to the most skilled and highly trained electrical contracting workforce as well as access to information about the most current energy and communication technologies solutions. For more information about PowerForward DuPage, or to find an electrical contractor, visit their website.