Celebrate National Skilled Trades Day

Skilled trades professionals are the unsung heroes of our everyday lives and the backbone of our economy. Encompassing a wide range of specialized skills from electricians and plumbers to carpenters and welders, skilled tradespeople create, maintain, and repair the critical infrastructure that our society relies on, from the homes we live in and the offices we work at to the roads we travel on. Their work touches almost every facet of life, making their contributions indispensable. But beyond the tangible structures they build and maintain, skilled trades are central to fostering innovation, supporting communities, and driving economic growth.

• A central role in society: Celebrating the skilled trades is not just about acknowledging their work; it's about recognizing their vital role in ensuring our way of life. In every sense, they are the foundation upon which our modern society is built, making them more critical than ever.
• Economic growth: As we navigate the challenges of the 21st century, including technological advancements and a shifting economic landscape, the demand for skilled tradespeople is surging. These careers offer stability, strong compensation potential, and the satisfaction of creating lasting impacts on the world around us.

• Current demand: In an illuminating report by Manpower Group in 2023, it was revealed that globally, nearly 4 in 5 employers are grappling with the challenge of finding the skilled talent they need. This pressing demand spans diverse sectors, notably energy and utilities, consumer goods and services, industrials and materials, transport, logistics, and automotive.
• Demographic shift: A significant demographic shift is driving this high demand for skilled trade workers: the aging workforce. As nearly half of skilled tradespeople are near retirement age, the talent gap in various sectors is growing daily. This demographic trend presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

• Educational path: Skilled trades careers offer an expedited educational path compared to traditional four-year degrees, allowing individuals to enter the workforce sooner and with less financial burden.
• Earnings potential: According to a 2022 Stanley Black & Decker Makers Index report, individuals who attend trade school and start working can be $140,000 ahead, on average, compared to those who enroll in a four-year college before working.
• Job security: Job security within skilled trades is exceptionally high, with workers in these fields essential to society's functioning and advancement. A 2023 report by Thumbtack reveals a striking sense of optimism among skilled trade workers about their job security, with 95% believing they won't be replaced by artificial intelligence.
• Technological advancement: The technological landscape of skilled trades is rapidly evolving, with an impressive 89% of workers in these fields reporting working with cutting-edge technology, as discussed in Stanley Black & Decker's 2022 Makers Index report. This exposure equips workers with highly transferable and future-proof skills.
• Job satisfaction and career advancement: Recent data from Thumbtack indicates high levels of job satisfaction, at 87%, among skilled trades professionals with diverse career paths and opportunities for entrepreneurship.

The growing importance of skilled trades in today’s economy cannot be overstated. As the backbone of essential industries, skilled tradespeople enjoy a long list of benefits, including accelerated educational paths, impressive earnings potential, unparalleled job security, engagement with modern technology, high job satisfaction, and diverse opportunities for advancement. The demand for these vital skills is a clarion call for the next generation of workers, offering a promising alternative to traditional career paths. By supporting the skilled trades workforce, companies acknowledge their indispensable contribution to daily lives and the economy and help ensure a robust, resilient, and innovative future for all modern society.