As seen in Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
October 30, 2026
There is something special about watching a skilled craftsman at work. Whether it’s a welder joining two pieces of steel, a mechanic keeping equipment running or a construction crew putting up a new building, these are the men and women who quite literally build our state.
Their work takes skill, dedication and pride. And as Arkansas continues to grow, we will need more of them.
A new national report from Ford Motor Co., developed in partnership with Google, Carhartt and BlackRock, puts numbers behind what Arkansas employers already know. Across the country, an estimated 1.7 million skilled-trades job openings will need to be filled each year through 2035.
Here in Arkansas, the findings tell an interesting story. Our skilled-trades workforce grew 6 percent between 2019 and 2025, adding roughly 11,000 workers and ranking 16th nationally for growth.
Arkansas is outpacing many states in bringing people into the trades, ranking in the 68th percentile for new workers.
That’s encouraging news. More Arkansans are recognizing the value of these careers, and our efforts to introduce people to skilled work are gaining traction. But we have more work to do.
Arkansas ranks in the 61st percentile nationally for skilled-trades demand, with some of our greatest workforce needs in manufacturing, construction and transportation. Heavy-equipment mechanics, crane operators and industrial machinery technicians are among the jobs in greatest demand.
Look at the manufacturing momentum and investments being announced across Arkansas, the expansion of our steel industry in Mississippi County and the businesses choosing to put down roots here. Every new facility that chooses to come here needs Arkansans who can build it, operate it and keep it running safely.
That’s why workforce development must start long before someone fills out a job application.
Recently, I saw that approach in action at Lexicon’s Steel Day, where nearly 400 high school and college students were introduced to welding and steel fabrication. Students toured the facility, watched demonstrations and even tried their hand at virtual welding and forklift operation. For some, it may have been their first look at a career in the trades.
Getting people interested in the trades is a great first step, but we also need to make sure they have the training and support to build successful careers. The Ford report shows Arkansas is doing a good job bringing people into the trades, but there’s still work to do to develop the skills employers need.
Programs like Lexicon University offer one example of how employers can help close that gap. Through hands-on instruction in welding, industrial maintenance and structural fitting, employees can sharpen their skills and build careers while earning a paycheck. Its latest graduation celebrated dozens of workers taking another step forward. I’ve had the privilege of seeing the pride on the faces of those graduates and their families. A new skill or credential isn’t just another line on a job application. It can mean a better paycheck, more responsibility and greater security for the people who depend on them.
We’re also seeing momentum at the university level. The University of Arkansas College of Engineering recently launched Vision 2035, a plan to grow the number of engineers graduating in Arkansas while expanding research and industry partnerships. With nearly 58,000 engineering job openings projected in Arkansas by 2038, developing more homegrown talent is essential. They’re starting recruitment early with their STEM Roots pilot program in five South Arkansas counties, which will train teachers to introduce engineering to elementary school students.
These efforts aren’t competing with one another. We need both the welder and the engineer–the person who builds the equipment and the person who figures out how to make it work better. And we need employers, educators and communities working together to make those opportunities accessible.
The Ford report gives us reason to be optimistic, but we cannot afford to get comfortable.
As a state, our greatest resource has never been the buildings we construct or the products we manufacture. It’s the hardworking Arkansans who make those things possible.
Arkansas has the opportunity to build something extraordinary. Now it’s our job to make sure our people have the skills, training and opportunities to build it.
Mike Rogers serves as Arkansas’ chief workforce officer and chairs the governor’s workforce cabinet.
