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Episode 01
Industrial Electrician
Explore the people, skills and training behind industrial electrical work.
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Find your road
Real careers.
Real skills.
More than one road.
College is one path. Skilled trades are another. Captain Workforce helps students, families and career changers explore what skilled trades involve, how training works and what questions to ask before choosing a path. Start with our career guides and short episodes.
Start here
A career you never knew existed could change everything.
Meet the people who build, maintain, repair and power America—and discover the careers hiding in plain sight.
Official series trailer43 seconds
Watch the episodes
Nobody Told Me About This Job
Watch an episode, explore the career guide and find a practical next step. Each guide covers the work, training options, pay and questions to ask before committing to a program.
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Episode 02
Millwright
Meet the trade behind installing, aligning and repairing industrial machinery.
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Episode 03
Welding
Explore how welding connects to structures, equipment and manufacturing—and learn what to ask before choosing a training program.
Explore Episode 3The full song
More Than One Road
An anthem for every young person who deserves to see more than one way forward.
The message behind Captain Workforce, in full: your future is not limited to the one path everybody already knows.
Original lyrics by Dereck Smith. Music and vocals created with Suno under a paid commercial-use license.
Explore careers
Explore Skilled Trades Career Guides
Get a clearer picture of the work before choosing your next step. Explore Industrial Electrician, Millwright and Welder careers, compare training routes and pay information, and bring better questions to a school, apprenticeship coordinator or employer.
Power + troubleshooting
Industrial Electrician
Explore this career →
Plants · facilities · infrastructure
Machines + precision
Millwright
Explore this career →
Installation · repair · alignment
Craft + technique
Welder
Explore this career →
Structural · pipe · manufacturingChoosing your training path?
Found a trade that interests you? Compare trade school and apprenticeship options before deciding how to get started. Explore costs, pay while learning, credentials and questions to ask a school, employer or program coordinator.
Compare Training PathsMore career guides are planned, including instrumentation and electrical work, controls, CNC machining, heavy equipment, diesel and plant operations.
Who builds this?
Big projects need skilled people.
We make the workforce behind modern infrastructure visible—one project, one crew and one career at a time.
Data Centers
The buildings behind the digital world rely on far more than servers.
- Industrial electricians
- Pipefitters and HVAC technicians
- Controls, commissioning and safety
Energy & LNG
Complex facilities come to life through coordinated trades and exacting standards.
- Pipefitters and welders
- Riggers and crane operators
- I&E technicians and safety teams
Manufacturing
Every production line depends on people who can build, operate and repair it.
- Millwrights and maintenance techs
- Machinists and electricians
- Operators and quality teams
Dereck Smith
Founder · Captain Workforce
Meet Captain Workforce
I’m Dereck Smith.
I’ve spent my career connecting people, employers and opportunities.
Along the way, I’ve seen how many rewarding careers remain invisible to young people simply because no one ever introduced them.
Captain Workforce exists to change that—to show students, parents and career changers the people, skills and opportunities behind the work that keeps America moving.
“College is one path. It’s not the only path. Know your options.”
There’s a place for you here
See the future from your point of view.
Students
Discover work that matches how you think, build and solve problems.
Parents
Help your student compare training, lifestyle, opportunity and fit.
Educators
Bring overlooked career pathways into the conversation.
Industry
Show the next generation what the work really looks like.
Let’s talk
Show us your road.
Working in a skilled trade? Tell us what you do, how you got started and what you wish someone had told you. Your story could help someone discover their future.
Questions, ideas or a story to share?
Students, families, educators and industry professionals are welcome. Get in touch about career questions, classroom conversations or contributing a trade story.
hello@captainworkforce.comKeep exploring
Your future may be a job nobody ever told you about.
Follow Captain Workforce for new careers, real project stories and practical conversations about what comes next.
Official Captain Workforce channels.