Written by: Olaf Olsen EASRCC Regional Manager for Pile Drivers, Commercial Divers, and Dockbuilders
Over the past decade, America’s offshore wind sector has grown from a promising industry in the Northeast to an economic powerhouse spanning over 40 states and supporting tens of billions in domestic investments. This rapid growth has brought thousands of new job opportunities in traditional trades, and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) has stepped up to ensure its members are ready to lead this next generation of energy infrastructure.
That is especially true in South Jersey, where local UBC pile drivers and commercial divers are receiving best-in-class training at the first-of-its-kind Commercial Dive Center in Sicklerville. Now, as states across the region are advancing their offshore wind supply chains, New Jersey is faced with a choice – embrace the opportunity to employ thousands of tradesmen and women here in our state, or watch the opportunity go by as other states create jobs that are filled by these New Jersey-trained workers.
For 144 years, the Carpenters Union has been training our members in the essential skills that power infrastructure: pile driving, drilling, underwater welding, marine construction, and foundation work. Offshore wind isn’t a new trade, it’s a natural extension of what the Carpenters Union have always done. While the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (EAS Carpenters) represents over 42,000 members across six states and D.C., only one of our 17 training centers offers critical underwater training to the next generation of America’s offshore wind workforce.
As the only trade union in the U.S. accredited by the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI), the EAS Carpenters offer a four-month Commercial Dive Program at no cost to members at our state-of-the-art, 10,000-square-foot facility in Sicklerville. The center provides hands-on training in underwater construction, welding, rigging, and safety, with previous graduates already working in the industry. Complementing this is the Marine Construction course, which covers vessel operation, boater safety, and engine maintenance. Paired with a four-month ADCI-accredited certificate, participants can earn commercial diver credentials and move directly into the four-year Pile Driver Apprenticeship Program.