Why Almost 91% of Skilled Tradespeople Are Satisfied in Their Careers
Pictured Above: Woman worker wearing safety goggles control lathe machine to drill components. Metal lathe industrial manufacturing factory
Date Posted: June 27, 2024
Posted In: Discussion, Workforce,
From Forbes: In the next twenty years, it’s estimated that some 47% of today’s jobs will become obsolete in the face of advancing artificial intelligence and automation. Of course, it doesn’t mean almost half the working population will be out of a job, but it does mean that those impacted will need to upskill in significant ways as the world shifts.
Not so the skilled trades, however. A recent Angi survey took the pulse of America’s skilled tradespeople in fields like construction, plumbing, electrical and HVAC—and the pulse is strong. Notably:
- Almost 91% of skilled tradespeople surveyed were “very satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied” with their careers (up from 83% in 2021)
- 65% believe they’re safe from being replaced by AI
- 47% don’t believe AI can ever replace humans in home improvement tasks
Yet for all this, the skilled trades are not immune to the skills gap. Today, we have one million fewer skilled tradespeople in America than we did in 2007. Thirty-nine percent of business owners are unable to find qualified workers to fill open positions, and 66% believe they could expand their company if they could only find more talent.
“If the skills gap in the trades continues to widen, it could result in a shortage of qualified workers to fill essential roles, leading to delays in construction projects, maintenance backlogs, and decreased productivity,” says Angie Hicks, Angi’s co-founder. “Moreover, industries reliant on skilled trades may struggle to innovate and remain competitive, potentially hindering economic growth and development.”
“While an increasing number of young people are entering the trades, especially construction trades, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to construction’s chronic skilled labor shortage,” says Procore founder and CEO Tooey Courtemanche. “It’s imperative we encourage more people to consider this career path, across generations.”
Why people don’t choose the trades—and 3 reasons they should
Courtemanche believes that the skilled trades has a branding problem…a big one. “It’s so deeply ingrained in American culture that it’s perpetuated by our entire educational system,” he says. “As a result, societal pressure continues to push young people toward four-year degrees instead of careers in construction and related trade professions.”