The Elevator Industry Highlights Career Opportunities at SkillsUSA NLSC 2025

Mark Your Calendars: June 23-27, 2025 | Atlanta, Georgia

The 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) represents more than just a competition—it’s a national initiative designed to elevate the next generation of trades professionals. Once again, the elevator industry is rising to the occasion.

Returning to Atlanta with a booth twice the size of last year’s footprint, the elevator industry conveys a powerful message: We are here to recruit, inspire, and educate the workforce of tomorrow. Led by the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP), the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC), the National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII), and the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF), this year’s initiative builds on the momentum from all industry sector partners.

The Future Is in the Field – and in the Hoistway

“I want everyone that walks through this booth to understand that you can be a part of something that’s an actual career and that will benefit the rest of your life,” said Sarah Miller, NEIEP Director of Diversity, during last year’s event. That sentiment has only grown stronger.

With SkillsUSA hosting more than 18,000 students, educators, and industry leaders from across the country, the elevator industry’s immersive exhibit is designed to demystify what elevator constructors do, and why it matters.

The trade itself may be unfamiliar to many students, but it connects deeply to the skills they already possess. “Every single thing you do in vocational school could be transferred into our trade because our trade has so many domains,” said Desalia Gomes, an elevator constructor apprentice based at IUEC Local 4 in Boston, MA. Desalia came into the elevator trade through a Boston-based building trades pre-apprenticeship program called Building Pathways. From welding and electrical systems to hydraulics and safety procedures, the elevator industry encompasses a broad range of disciplines found in career and technical education (CTE) programs nationwide.

Elevating Learning Through Hands-On Experience

This year’s booth will feature NEIEP’s hands-on demonstration zone, including:

– Cutaway Valve Displays – Allowing students to see how hydraulic valves function.

– Working Elevator Hoistway Exhibit – A real-time, scaled system that visually explains how traction elevators operate.

– Escalator VR Simulators – A game-changing tool to demonstrate the mechanics of escalator systems and the safety protocols for devices students can’t typically access.

– Virtual Reality Simulations – Interactive simulations showing what elevator apprentices do across construction, maintenance, and modernization work.

“You can actually see the device safely, see how it operates, and understand the operation of the step chain… where we can’t see it in the field,” explained Rick Myers, a Subject Matter Expert who develops curriculum and lab materials for NEIEP. By showing students what lies beneath the surface—literally and figuratively—NEIEP is making the case for elevator work as both a science and a career

A Real Career. A Real Future. No Student Debt.

The message to students is straightforward: the elevator industry offers one of the best skilled trades careers in America—and you get paid to learn.

“As an elevator mechanic, you would come in as an apprentice. You’re gonna work, and earn money while you go to school,” said Lester White, NEIEP’s Head of Development.

“My classes are on Wednesdays. I report to my local. It’s from four to eight after work. And I’m learning these things to make me the best at my trade,” said Desalia.

With union support, NEIEP apprentices not only learn technical skills; they also receive competitive wages, pensions, annuities, and comprehensive healthcare. “Hopefully they’ll also learn that this is where their life will start changing,” Desalia shared. “You join the trade and you’re gonna have a pension and an annuity.”

This financial and lifestyle security is a major draw for students who may not see a traditional college path as the right fit. And the numbers back it up: elevator constructors are among the highest-paid tradespeople in the construction sector.

Representation Matters: Meet the People Who Built Their Career Here

Representation is another powerful tool. At the booth, students interact directly with NEIEP instructors, union representatives, and current apprentices—some just a few years older than the students themselves.

These conversations matter. Whether a student is unsure about their next step or eager to jump into a specific trade, talking with someone who’s been there, done that, and found success helps bridge the gap between aspiration and action.

Built-In Safety, Built-In Support

Another key message the elevator industry brings to SkillsUSA: safety is non-negotiable.

“Every new program has safety built in. There are hazards in every aspect of our trade. So as you’re learning an aspect of our trade, you’re also learning the safety for that particular aspect,” said Scott Russell, an IUEC National Organizer and member of Local 32 in Atlanta, GA. The use of VR, scaffolding, PPE demos, and real-world simulations helps make that commitment tangible.

By integrating these technologies and standards from the very first interaction, NEIEP ensures that future elevator constructors develop a culture of safety from day one.

But safety in the elevator trade goes far beyond protecting workers—it is also about safeguarding the public. Elevators are an essential part of daily life for billions of people worldwide. From hospitals and schools to office buildings and high-rise housing, elevators must operate with precision and security. Every elevator technician plays a vital role in public trust and infrastructure reliability. A small error in installation or maintenance can result in serious consequences. That’s why safety training in this field is rigorous, standardized, and continuously updated.

IUEC-affiliated elevator companies recognize this responsibility and heavily invest in workforce training and certifications. They understand that protecting elevator users means first protecting the workers who install and maintain them. This culture of accountability and care is what distinguishes the elevator trade and reinforces why it’s not just a job—it’s a public safety mission.

Why Highly Skilled Workers are Non-Negotiable in the Vertical Transportation Industry

The elevator industry isn’t just about moving people — it’s about moving them safely, reliably, and efficiently in environments where failure is not an option. In major metropolitan areas and small communities alike, elevators are lifelines in high-rises, hospitals, transit systems, and residential towers. That means the people behind their installation and maintenance must operate at the highest levels of skill and focus.

Elevator systems today are complex, integrating digital controls and advanced hydraulics. It takes deep technical training, precision, and a commitment to lifelong learning to install and maintain them properly. The NEIEP apprenticeship model isn’t just a training program, it’s a quality assurance system that ensures the highest safety and performance standards are upheld in every building where elevators operate.

Moreover, this is a global industry. Regardless of the country or region, people depend on elevators every day. Indeed, vertical transportation is one of the few infrastructure systems that spans all continents, cultures, and sectors, from hospitals to hotels, airports to apartment buildings. As population growth and urbanization continue to rise, the demand for new systems and the skilled workers to build and maintain them is steadily increasing.

This workforce need is urgent, but it also presents a historic opportunity. Companies that value safety and quality understand they must invest in highly skilled workers. This means that apprenticeships, ongoing certifications, and partnerships with labor and educational institutions are not just optional—they’re essential. The elevator industry is responding to that call, and SkillsUSA is one of the most important places to connect with tomorrow’s workforce today.

Industry Collaboration at Its Finest

This year’s SkillsUSA effort is the result of an extraordinary partnership between:

– NEIEP (National Elevator Industry Educational Program)

– IUEC (International Union of Elevator Constructors)

– NEII (National Elevator Industry, Inc.)

– EIWPF (Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund)

These organizations collectively bring the power of union training, employer partnerships, public-private collaboration, and decades of experience to the table. Together, they are creating a clear, welcoming on-ramp to elevator careers for America’s best and brightest students.

Final Word: There’s a Place for You in the Elevator Industry

“What we want people to take away from this booth is that there’s a place for you here in the elevator industry, and we are looking for the best and brightest,” summed up one Sarah Miller. “That’s why we’re here. Hopefully, someone will walk away from here interested and excited about getting into the elevator industry.”

From hands-on learners and robotics hobbyists to students with an interest in electrical and mechanical engineering, the elevator industry is wide open for the next generation of skilled tradespeople.

Visit Us at SkillsUSA NLSC 2025

Make your way to the Elevator Industry Booth in Halls B/C of the Georgia World Congress Center. Try the tools. Ask questions. Meet the pros. And learn how technically-oriented students are elevating their careers —one floor at a time.

For more information, visit www.elevatorinfo.org or connect with your local IUEC representative.

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This blog was developed in partnership with NEIEP, IUEC, NEII, and EIWPF to support career awareness, recruitment, and public outreach at the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference.