Trade Schools Expand as Employer Demand Grows
Universal Technical Institute and Lincoln Educational Services are raising capital spending to add campuses and programs as skilled-worker demand climbs.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Internships
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Universal Technical Institute and Lincoln Educational Services are seeing enrollment growth driven by employer demand for skilled workers, and both are raising capital spending to expand campuses and programs. Some UTI programs have waitlists, and some students are delaying their start until the next class begins.
Why it matters
Employers building data centers, expanding manufacturing, and automating factories need trained workers, and the schools are working to meet capacity constraints. Both companies have also faced operational setbacks that show expansion is not automatic.
Lincoln's student starts slowed sharply last quarter, and UTI cut its forecasts citing a shortage of high-school admissions representatives. Both schools have raised capital spending plans, though the dollar amounts and expansion scope were not provided.
The players
Universal Technical Institute
A publicly traded postsecondary school that trains students for skilled technical careers such as automotive, diesel, and aviation maintenance.
Lincoln Educational Services
A publicly traded operator of career-focused schools offering training in skilled trades and health-related fields.
Dycom Industries
A specialty contractor for telecommunications and infrastructure that is building a training center in Georgia to develop its workforce.
Carrier Global Corp.
A global heating, ventilation, and air conditioning manufacturer that has opened training centers to build technician capacity.
The details
UTI has hired more recruiters and cut its forecasts after citing a shortage of admissions representatives in high schools and a shift in student interest toward skilled-trades programs. Lincoln failed to clearly communicate costs and financial aid, and it is updating its website to improve how AI models present information to prospective students.
Timeline
Last quarter: Lincoln's student starts slowed sharply and UTI cut its forecasts.
September: Texas Capital's Eric Wold downgraded UTI to hold.
Next year: Dycom Industries' training center in Georgia is expected to open.
Roadmap
Manufacturers such as Carrier Global Corp. have opened their own technician training centers, and Dycom Industries is following the same approach in Georgia. Public trade-school operators are now expanding capacity in parallel, suggesting employers and schools are jointly addressing the skilled-labor gap.
Prospective students may face waitlists at some UTI heating, ventilation and air conditioning, welding, and aviation programs, so applicants should confirm class start dates before enrolling. Students weighing these programs should compare costs and financial aid details directly with each school, since Lincoln's enrollment slowdown followed unclear communication on those topics.
The takeaway
Expanding trade training depends on both employer demand and schools' ability to communicate costs and recruit students, so job seekers should weigh program fit and financial details before committing to a start date.
What happens next
Dycom Industries' training center in Georgia is expected to open next year.
Further reading
For related coverage, see the Internships section on career pathways that connect students with employers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Boston Herald.
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