How JLG Is Investing in the Future of Skilled Trades

The skilled labor shortage continues to challenge manufacturers and contractors across North America. As experienced craft professionals retire and demand for skilled workers grows, the need for workforce development has never been greater.

At JLG, we believe the solution goes beyond hiring talent — it requires helping create it.

"We saw an opportunity, not just to hire talent but to help create it one student, one trainee and one craft professional at a time," says Andy Tacelosky, chief operating officer at JLG. "These programs give people a pathway to build a career, earn a living and stay in the communities they love."

Through partnerships with high schools, technical colleges and industry organizations, as well as internal training programs for current team members, JLG is investing in the future of the skilled trades by creating pathways for students and workers to build meaningful careers.

Building Talent Through School-to-Work Programs

One of the ways JLG is helping develop the next generation of skilled professionals is through its School-to-Work (S2W) program.

The program allows high school juniors and seniors near JLG manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania to earn school credit while working in paid roles in welding, assembly, painting, fabrication, warehouse support and other manufacturing positions. Students gain hands-on experience, mentorship from experienced team members and exposure to potential career paths in manufacturing and engineering.

"Our School-to-Work program gives young people a real opportunity to help us rebuild the future of the skilled trades," says Tacelosky. "These are students who want to work with their hands and solve real problems, but the classroom alone can't always give them that experience. Through S2W and S2W+, they earn school credit, a paycheck and the chance to work alongside experienced professionals. We're creating more skilled workers in the Pennsylvanian communities where our team members live and work, as well as shaping the next generation of craft professionals and manufacturing leaders."

The program continues to grow. During the 2024-2025 school year, JLG partnered with 20 schools and enrolled 118 students. Today, 76 students are enrolled for the 2025-2026 school year, including participants in both S2W and the advanced S2W+ program.

The impact can be seen through the experiences of participants.

Tanner Clugston, who participated in the School-to-Work program in 2023 and now works as an apprentice in JLG's Engineering Department during college breaks, credits the experience with helping shape his future.

"My work experience at JLG was a major factor in helping me receive an exclusive academic scholarship at the college I am currently attending," says Clugston. "Working at JLG also helped me discover what field of engineering I wanted to pursue."

Another former participant, Shane Gelsinger, started as an assembler through the School-to-Work program before pursuing engineering opportunities within the company. Today, he serves as a full-time Manufacturing Engineer.

"This program allowed me to see where my interests lay within the working world," says Gelsinger. "The School to Work program opened the door for many more opportunities for me. Going through this program basically jump-started my career."

Educators have also seen the impact these opportunities can have on students and their communities. "The School-to-Work Program gives JLG a significant advantage in recruiting and  developing the future workforce," says Krista Akers, Career Coordinator at Shippensburg Area Senior High School. "This program not only helps at-risk students improve attendance and academic performance but also provides valuable opportunities for our high-achieving students to excel. Many of our graduates have gone on to build long-term careers with JLG, while others have carried the skills and experiences they gained into their college studies and future endeavors."

These experiences demonstrate how early exposure to manufacturing careers can help students identify their interests, develop valuable skills and build long-term career paths.

Expanding Opportunities Through S2W+

To provide students with exposure to more specialized technical roles, JLG launched S2W+, an advanced branch of the School-to-Work program.

The program places students in specialized positions such as maintenance, industrial and manufacturing engineering, robotic programming, machining, fabrication technology and testing. These opportunities provide deeper technical experience while helping students develop skills that align with evolving workforce needs.

Partnering With Technical Education Programs

JLG is also investing in workforce development through partnerships with technical education institutions.

In Fall 2025, the company launched a pilot program with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), placing students within JLG's Maintenance Department at its Jefferson City, Tennessee, facility.

Students work alongside both first- and second-shift maintenance teams, gaining hands-on experience with a variety of maintenance functions while continuing their technical education.

"This is what modern technical education should look like," says Tacelosky. "Students are learning in class and applying it in real-world situations the same day."

The partnership provides students with valuable industry experience while supporting JLG's commitment to developing future talent within the local community.

Investing in Current Team Members Through Upskilling

JLG's workforce-development efforts extend beyond students. The company also invests in current and future team members through internal training programs designed to help employees develop new skills and advance into high-demand positions.

JLG's Weld Trainee Program provides entry-level team members and external candidates with the opportunity to become certified welders. Participants complete classroom and lab-based instruction followed by hands-on training alongside experienced JLG welders. To date, approximately 56 internal trainees and 41 external trainees have completed the program.

Similarly, the Paint Trainee Program helps develop industrial painters through structured training and mentorship. Participants gain the skills needed to move into full-time painter roles and advance their careers.

"Welding and painting require skill, safety, precision and pride in craft, and these are often some of the most difficult roles in manufacturing to fill," says Tacelosky. "Instead of waiting for talent to come to us, we're choosing to grow it — building careers and strengthening our workforce for the future."

Building the Industry for the Future

JLG's commitment to workforce development extends beyond its own facilities. The company partners with trade associations, unions, training schools, equipment rental providers and industry organizations to help develop skilled professionals across North America. Through JLG training programs and industry outreach initiatives, contractors, operators, technicians and craft professionals gain access to equipment training, safety education and skills development opportunities.

"We know we can't solve the skilled labor shortage on our own," says Tacelosky. "That's why we're partnering with trade associations, unions, technical schools and industry groups to help upskill these professionals to bring real-world equipment, certified training and industry standards directly to the people who need it most. Working alongside these organizations, we're not just training people; we're helping them build lasting careers."

Creating the Future, Together

JLG's workforce development initiatives are not short-term programs. They are part of a long-term commitment to helping strengthen the skilled trades while creating opportunities for students, team members and industry professionals.

By investing in education partnerships, workforce training and career development programs, JLG is helping build a stronger talent pipeline for the future.

As Tacelosky says, "We're not just preparing people for jobs. We're helping them build meaningful careers. And in doing so, we're helping strengthen the trades, the industry and the communities we're proud to call home."

Learn more about JLG’s workforce development efforts at JLG.com/en/press-releases/jlg-invests-in-skilled-trades---building-talent-and-communities-and-upskilling-pros