Educationally Speaking Producers Paul Bibeau and Barry Graham review pathways to employment into the skilled trades. Recently, Dr. Quintin Kidd of Christopher Newport University commissioned a survey of Peninsula residents to determine their attitudes towards the skilled trades and how the view of prestige affects parent encouragement of their children into specific occupations and careers. Anne Lessear and Sherry Miles Foley were profiled as two workers who followed their passion into the skilled trades. Also, Dr. Susan English of Thomas Nelson Community College discussed the Workforce Grant “Fast Forward” which provides tuition assistance to obtain a trade certification. The shortage in workers has caused growing alarm in the manufacturing and construction sectors as industry leaders indicate their ability to get skilled workers into the job pipeline. National and State level leaders are encouraging schools to advance skill-based training that does not require a college degree.