Amid a forecast of 650,000 construction positions available in the U.S. and a decline in the number of new workers entering the trade industry compared to prior decades, the United States is encountering a crisis in skilled labor.
While the manufacturing sector rebounded robustly following the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be at risk of having as many as 1.9 million manufacturing positions unfilled unless there is a significant change in current trends.
“At a moment when there is an increasing consumer demand for home renovations, construction, and maintenance, coupled with a rising concern over worker detachment, the skilled trades represent a tremendous opportunity,” notes the 2021 Angi Skilled Trades in America report.
The Aging Workforce in Skilled Trades
The increasing age of skilled workers is concerning. The Angi report indicates that the average age of trades professionals was 43 in 2021, which is nearly 10% greater than the median age of the general population in the U.S. during that year.
“For every five plumbers or electricians who retire, only one young individual enters the trades,” states Erin Izen, head of philanthropy and community investments at The Home Depot Foundation. “Without experienced tradespeople to mentor the upcoming generation, this issue will persist, adversely affecting our nation’s economy, infrastructure, and beyond.”
“The deficit is due to various factors discouraging younger individuals from entering the trades—from preconceived notions regarding the work to a heightened emphasis on pursuing higher education and diminished interest in essential high school subjects like shop class, which expose young people to these career paths,” explains Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi.
“Traditional trade and blue-collar professions in manufacturing and agriculture saw a notable decrease at the conclusion of the 1970s,” elaborates Lawrese Brown, a workforce specialist and author of I Don’t Have To Go To College: Discover Well-Paying Jobs That Don’t Require a 4-Year College Degree. “This shift led to a ‘college for everyone’ mentality in the 1980s, based on the belief that higher education was the optimal way to prepare for a ‘service-oriented economy,’” Brown adds.
Increasing Female Presence in Trades
With a shortage of available personnel, employers in the trades are eager to reach out to candidates beyond those who have traditionally filled these positions.
The Women’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor provides initiatives that encourage women to pursue careers in these fields, such as the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Grant. Recipients of the grant offer training, mentorship, and educational opportunities aimed at increasing women’s access to these lucrative careers and reducing the gender pay gap.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that 2021 saw the highest number of women employed as tradespeople, exceeding 314,000 skilled workers. From 2014 to 2022, the population of female apprentices more than doubled, with 13.8% of women participating as apprentices in 2022, up from 9.4% in 2014.
Women Excelling in Skilled Trades
KB Amador grew up in an environment that prioritized higher education and was working as a social worker when she encountered what she refers to as her “quarter-life crisis.” Realizing she found little satisfaction in her lengthy hours at an office, Amador sought out alternative career possibilities. “It occurred to me that I needed a change, which prompted my exploration of the trades…. I was eager to employ both my hands and my intellect in my work.”
Amador investigated various trade jobs before enrolling in a welding course at Madison College and commencing an apprenticeship with Steamfitters Local 601. She is now a steamfitter foreman at Hooper Corporation and mentors apprentices.
“As a woman on the job site, you certainly draw attention on the first day, but once coworkers recognize your dedication and the quality of your work, they typically welcome you with open arms,” says Amador. “It’s particularly enjoyable to walk onto a new site now that I lead the work, and my apprentice is also a woman. It’s a rare sight, but there are certainly more women entering the trades than when I began.”
LeAngela Runels transitioned from pursuing a political science degree at Eastern Michigan University to focus on motherhood. She later established a cleaning service that included construction cleanup, which revealed to her the possibilities within skilled trades. She joined a carpentry program via Goodwill’s Green Works, where she won the attention of the leadership team and was subsequently directed to a welding program.
Runels is now employed as a welder at Ferrous Processing & Trading and values the work-life balance her role provides. “A career in trades lets me prioritize my personal life after work hours. Frequently, white-collar roles demand attention that spills over into personal time, impacting other areas of my life. As a welder, I can complete my tasks and continue with my day.”
Offering flexibility within her own business, Angie Snow, principal industry adviser at ServiceTitan, incorporates this principle for her staff. “Having entered the field while raising four children, I have firsthand experience of the many advantages the trades provide, including flexibility, work-life balance, and financial security. To encourage a balance for my team, I offer four-day workweeks.”
Kimberly Santiago, program manager for GAF Roofing Academy, began her career in academia and was working part-time in a construction subcontractor’s office when she developed an interest in roofing. She eventually left academia and enrolled in the GAF Roofing Academy.
Santiago describes the advantages her blue-collar job provides that were absent in her white-collar role. “It presents hands-on experience that demonstrates tangible outcomes, which is incredibly motivating and gratifying. The continuous demand for skilled labor and trades professionals guarantees job security. Additionally, because this demand is always high, a trade career can offer attractive salaries and rapid job advancement.”
Women in Trades Motivate Others to Join
The camaraderie among tradeswomen is strong, evident in their encouragement for other women to join them in careers they are passionate about.
A recent trend on TikTok instigated by @tiltedindustries had tradeswomen sharing their love for their professions and motivating other females to consider roles as pipe fitters, sheet metal workers, mechanics, train operators, and more. Using hashtags like #bluecollarbesties and #womenintrades, they shared hiring advice and revealed details about their pay and job perks, such as free education, pension programs, and equipment allowances.
When Cassie Pound, co-owner of Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric in Tulsa, Oklahoma, attended a conference that featured a panel of entirely male speakers, she realized the need to carve her own path within the industry. “During a social media discussion, someone suggested that perhaps there weren’t any women with equal business skills as those men,” Pound recounted. “I replied, ‘Let’s go find them.’” This experience prompted Pound to launch a weekly podcast titled Power Women of the Trades, where she and her co-host, Leslie Harpole, interview successful women business owners in the field and challenge common stereotypes.
Andi Barney conducts sewing machine service, repair, and restoration through her virtual initiative, Sewing Doc Academy, a fully operational business with over 1,200 participants. Most of Barney’s students are women, many over 65 years old. “For decades, women have faced belittlement and were told they weren’t capable of understanding or proficient with tools,” Barney observes. “Remarkably, many of these women are turning their skills into a source of retirement income or a side enterprise.”
Advice for Women Pursuing Careers in Trades
Regardless of whether a trade career is pursued directly after high school or as a second career after years in an office environment, opportunities exist for women.
“Don’t let fear hold you back,” cautions Santiago. “It may appear that there’s little room for women in this field, but we must claim our space and demonstrate that we can excel just as well as our male counterparts.”
“For women entering this profession, I recommend surrounding yourself with individuals who genuinely care about you and the industry,” advises Cassi Torres, vice president of High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. “I’ve explored numerous job environments and they vary significantly. Your surroundings matter, so seek out an organization that will invest in your training and support your aspirations.”
As per Krystal Greenhaw, owner of Wise Coatings of Raleigh, it’s important to showcase your capabilities. “I approach each day not by concentrating on being a woman in this industry, but by focusing on what unique value I can contribute. I encourage others to do the same, fostering greater interest among women, resulting in shared empowerment in our field.”
