Drive through rural parts of the Midwest and you’ll still pass homes, schools, and businesses without reliable high-speed internet. Despite billions of dollars invested nationally, the FCC estimates that roughly 5 to 6% of U.S. households remain unserved or undeserved. Across the Midwest, that number is similar, tens of thousands of families and workplaces are still waiting for the digital lifeline most of us take for granted.

The reality is that the broadband build-out is far from finished. Massive federal and state investments, like the BEAD program, are aimed at closing these gaps, but that funding only matters if there are skilled hands to pull the fiber, test the lines, and connect the end users. Right now, many contractors are stretched thin trying to keep up with demand.

Where the Future is Headed

Over the next decade, the industry will face a dual challenge. First, experienced technicians are retiring faster than the new ones entering the trade. Second, demand is shifting:

• Fiber builds and maintenance will surge as providers push service deeper into rural communities. (More territory)
• Low-voltage systems like security, smart homes, and A/V networks are growing fast nationally, fueled by the need for a connected and safe workplace.
• Telecom line installers and repairers across the Midwest are projected to see steady annual openings, driven by new growth and replacement needs.

This means real opportunities for many people. Stable jobs with average pay ranging from $50,000 to $70,000, often without the need for a four-year degree. And for students, that means a career path that’s both accessible and future-proof.

Careers in Fiber and Telecom

A career in fiber or telecommunications doesn’t just mean climbing poles or splicing lines. Today’s technicians:

• Design and install structured cabling systems in schools, hospitals and data centers.
• Bring fiber to homes and businesses that power remote work, telehealth, and online education.
• Set up low-voltage systems that integrate security, automation, and smart technology.

Every connection is a building block for modern life. Without them, communities fall behind. With them, they thrive.

How CTE Can Fill the Gap

Here’s the opportunity: Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs can step directly into this talent gap. By giving high school students exposure to telecom and fiber certifications, schools can launch graduates straight into high-demand, high-wage roles. It’s not just about filling jobs, it’s about intentionally building the Midwest workforce and ensuring our communities remain connected and competitive.

Organizations like C-Tech have already built proven certification programs that give students industry-recognized skills in structured cabling, fiber optics, and low-voltage systems. Partners like Buckeye Educational Systems are working to bring these programs into schools across the Midwest, aligning training with employer demand and equipping the next generation to step into careers that are both technical and essential.

Building the Digital Economy

The wires, cables, and fiber that run beneath our feet and across our poles may not always be visible, but they are what make our modern life possible. The question isn’t whether the Midwest needs more skilled telecom and fiber technicians – it’s whether we will prepare enough students now to meet that need tomorrow.

That preparation requires more than good intentions. It requires state governments and industry leaders to invest in schools, ensuring programs like these are accessible to students in every community. With the right support, CTE can do more than close the skills gap, it will connect an entire region to its future.

– Brian Evans, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Aidex Educational Systems