It’s no secret that there’s a skilled-labor gap in America’s working-age population. Headlines have trumpeted this growing crisis for years. In a 2015 study published by Deloitte and the U.S. Manufacturing Institute, the trend for the manufacturing industry indicated a shortage of 2 million skilled workers by 2025. The construction and utilities industries are also grappling with a lack of available skilled workers.

The reasons for the growing gap are clear: baby boomers currently hold the majority of the jobs in those skilled trade roles, and they quickly are reaching retirement age. And, for more than 20 years, parents and ...