# Just Thinking… About Developing the Next Generation of Skilled Trade Professionals with Josh Nieves

By MarketScale · Published 2025-02-19 · Updated 2026-09-14 · Engineering & Construction on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/engineering-and-construction/workforce-readiness-skilled-trades-mentorship
Creator hub: Just Thinking...

> A labor shortage in construction and electrical work reveals untapped opportunity to reshape how young professionals view skilled trade careers

## Key points

- A labor shortage in construction and electrical work reveals untapped opportunity to reshape how young professionals view skilled trade careers

Block Field

The skilled trades industry is at a crossroads. With a [growing labor shortage](https://marketscale.com/industries/podcast-network/straight-outta-crumpton/trade-education-evin-jarrett-straight-outta-crumpton/) and an [aging workforce](https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/tradespeople-wanted-the-need-for-critical-trade-skills-in-the-us), industries like construction and electrical work face urgent challenges in attracting and developing new talent. While the demand for skilled trade professionals is expected to continue rising, many young people remain unaware of the career opportunities available through apprenticeships and vocational training.

How can we bridge this gap and make the trades a first-choice career path rather than a backup option?

Welcome to [*Just Thinking*](https://marketscale.com/shows/just-thinking/). In this episode, host [Kevin Dougherty](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-dougherty-justthinking/) sits down with **Josh Nieves**, the Principal and CEO of **Ascender Consulting**, Founder of **This Hudson Farm**, and Regional Workforce Development Lead at **Miller Electric**. They discuss how education, industry partnerships, and company culture can transform workforce readiness and help create a strong pipeline of skilled trade professionals.

#### The main topics of conversation…

- **Attracting Talent**: Why early exposure to trade careers is critical and how schools can help shift perceptions about vocational education.
- **Training and Development**: The role of mentorship, hands-on learning, and leadership training in shaping a resilient workforce.
- **Retention Strategies**: How companies can build loyalty through culture, career growth opportunities, and competitive benefits.

### About the Speakers

**Josh Nieves** is a seasoned workforce development leader, master electrician, and business strategist with extensive experience in the construction and electrical industries. He specializes in talent development, leadership training, and strategic workforce planning for the skilled trades. With a background in managing large-scale projects—including the Brooklyn bridge restoration, LaGuardia airport redevelopment, and Google headquarters—Josh is dedicated to elevating construction professionals through education, mentorship, and career transformation.

Tags: Ascender Consulting, Josh Nieves, Just Thinking, Kevin Dougherty, Miller Electric Company, skilled trades labor shortage, This Hudson Farm

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