SAVOY, Ill. (WCIA) — Researchers estimate there’s around 650,000 job openings in the trades. On Saturday in Savoy, people graduated from a first-of-its-kind class in Central Illinois to fill those jobs.

Traeton Woods passed the class on Saturday. Woods said he got a complete overview of metal working — and how it can be applied in the future.

The training started in January and targeted people with financial hardships and from underrepresented communities. Pre-apprentices were paid to complete 16 hours a week of training.

Woods said he learned in a classroom — and by doing his own work. He built toolboxes with the sheet metal workers and rebar with the iron workers. Now that he’s done — he’s looking to get a job with a union.

“Man, I’m stoked. When you start in January, you don’t know when it’s going,” Woods said. “It seems like it’s taking forever, then you get here. It’s crazy. [I’m] actually really excited, I’ve actually started a little bit. I work with BC Mechanical, doing sheet metal work.”

Woods has an interview with the union in April. Four other people graduated alongside him on Saturday hoping to put their new skills to use.