Eastern Kentucky—and the U.S. as a whole—faces a growing shortage of skilled tradespeople, including plumbers. Despite being a sustainable career with consistent need and opportunity, fewer young adults are choosing to pursue a trade like plumbing after high school.
At the same time, Kentucky needs more workforce participation, specifically in Eastern Kentucky. Often what keeps people in our area from work is lack of opportunities that would provide a stable, livable income.
Recognizing both these challenges, SOAR and KCTCS partnered to bridge the gap—starting with a handful of students enrolled in the Plumbing Fast Track course.
The Plumbing Problem
As more long-time tradespeople retire from the workforce and the talent pipeline struggles to keep up, the nation faces a skilled labor shortage. According to Bloomberg, the U.S. is expected to be short more than half a million plumbers by next year. This means delays in home repairs, business construction, and infrastructure projects.
But it’s more than a surge in retirement driving the shortage—it can be a long process toward becoming a licensed plumber, often requiring years of education in addition to apprenticeships and hands-on experience.
The Workforce Crisis
In Eastern Kentucky, the labor force participation rate for adults aged 25 to 54 hovers around ~50%, far below the national average of 83% (U.S. Census).
This means almost half of prime age working adults are not working, not actively seeking work, and not captured in official unemployment statistics. That’s not just a workforce gap; it’s a structural crisis.
Tens of thousands of adults are missing from the economy. Not because they’ve disappeared, but because systems have failed to meet them where they are. Reasons for disconnection vary, but one driving factor is a credentialing and skills gap.
Addressing the Barriers
Take Jason Patton and Delmar Watts from Perry County, for example.
Each of them had already completed more than a year of hands-on work under licensed plumbers, gaining valuable experience but earning modest wages that kept them underemployed.
Despite their skill and determination, neither could afford the tuition for the Plumbing Fast Track course at Hazard Community and Technical College, a program that provides one year of credit toward the journeyman license and a direct pathway to becoming a fully licensed plumber. For families like Jason’s and Delmar’s, this career path offers the chance to build financial stability without having to relocate or leave the region they love.
Dr. Keila Miller, Vice-Chancellor of Workforce Solutions at HCTC, saw the need of these plumbing students and connected them with Barbara Gay, SOAR’s Workforce Training and Support Network Project Manager.
“I found the class, tried financial aid, and didn’t have any luck there,” Delmar said. “Barb gave me a call at the last second, and she was able to get me in.”
Two Problems, One Solution
Through the EKY Runway Program’s wrap-around support, four students, including Jason and Delmar, were able to enroll in the course. They also received digital skills coaching to strengthen their confidence in online coursework and communication so they could fully engage with the program’s technical and safety training.
“At HCTC, we never want cost to stand between someone and a better future,” Dr. Miller said. “Some of the students in our Plumbing Fast Track program didn’t qualify for traditional tuition assistance, but that didn’t mean they weren’t ready to succeed. By connecting them with SOAR, we were able to remove a financial barrier and keep them moving toward a high-demand career.”
The course, led by instructor Chris Slone, provides intensive instruction in residential and commercial plumbing systems, blueprint reading, and code compliance.
Because water is everywhere, the students will be able to work anywhere after becoming certified. For students like Timothy “Ryan” Sizemore, that can make all the difference in choosing a career.
“There’s not a lot of good paying jobs in Eastern Kentucky if you don’t have a college degree,” Ryan said. “It’s nice to be able to stay where you’re born and raised. They’re always gonna need plumbers, and it’s a blessing to get to go through [the class] thanks to SOAR.”
For many of the students in the program, becoming a certified plumber will drastically change their current circumstances as well as their futures.
“I was broke and I worked the hardest,” Delmar said, describing his situation before starting the class.
In addition to working under licensed plumbers at Goodin Plumbing, he’d worked at several fast food restaurants, Walmart, and an aluminum factory to make ends meet over the years. As a plumber, Delmar looks forward to always having something to do.
“It’s always a headache,” he joked. “I don’t know why but I like headaches. I like problem-solving.”
With their prior hands-on experience, both Jason and Delmar will finish the class as fully certified plumbers, more than doubling their hourly wages.
“My wife’s gonna be able to get a new car in a couple months,” Delmar said. “We might be able to get out of some apartments and get our own house.”
As for what’s next, “Get a master [plumber’s license] and keep on climbing,” he says.
More Than Money: How Sustained Support Makes All the Difference
It wasn’t just the financial support that made a difference, though. Barb visited the class every couple of weeks to personally check in with students and provide additional support.
“It’s one thing to pay [for the class] and let somebody go through it, but being there… it really shows you that they’re making sure you’re doing it,” said Luke Woods, another student who received tuition support from SOAR. “They’re not just paying for you. They want you to prevail.”
Like Jason and Delmar, Luke didn’t qualify for any financial aid or other government support to attend the class but also couldn’t afford it on his own.
“I felt like everything was meant to be,” he said. “Feeling the support behind you, it motivates you. If you have these people backing you, you don’t want to be the one to not finish. I feel like I owe it to them.”
While Luke will still have to work under a licensed plumber to complete his credentials, he looks forward to continuing his journey—in plumbing and beyond. His end goal: to work for himself. To get there, he plans to get his journeyman’s license and maybe add a couple other trades under his belt.
All four students SOAR supported through the Plumbing Fast Track course have excelled in the program, demonstrating professionalism, reliability, and a deep commitment to their craft. Their success represents more than just personal achievement—it highlights what’s possible when opportunity meets determination.
That’s what partnership looks like,” said Dr. Miller. “When our colleges, employers, community organizations, and state leaders work together, we’re doing more than helping individuals earn a credential. We’re strengthening families, growing our workforce, and building a brighter future for Southeastern Kentucky and the Commonwealth as a whole.”
Are you determined to redefine what’s possible? Get connected with our EKY Talent Network or learn more about the EKY Runway Program to see how SOAR can help.