As discussed in a previous article on onshoring and reshoring, the push to bring manufacturing and industrial operations back to the United States is gaining momentum. But this shift raises an important question: Is the U.S. workforce ready to meet the growing demand for skilled trades?
Skilled trades have always played a big role in the US economy, helping out in areas like manufacturing, plumbing, and construction. Even though there’s a rising need for people in jobs like welding, HVAC technicians, and machine maintenance, companies are having a tough time finding workers. So, what’s causing this shortage? Here are four key reasons for the gap in the trades workforce.
1. A Lack of Awareness
A fundamental hurdle to overcome is that many young people do not have an interest in the trades. For years, trade careers have been seen as less appealing than career paths that are based on college attendance. High school students and their parents often see a four-year degree as the better option. In order to generate interest in skilled trade careers, schools should offer more shop classes, vocational training, and partnerships with local employers. Without awareness of these options, students don’t know that skilled trades can be a satisfying, well-paying option. This lack of awareness is a bottleneck in the flow of talent from the very beginning.
2. Salaries and Debt
At this point, skilled trades careers just don’t support the same level of income as those for college graduates. While there are a variety of numbers published concerning incomes, here are figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The overall median salary in the US for college graduates is $66,000 and the overall median salary for skilled trades ranges from $50,000 to $60,0001.
Keep in mind that on average a college degree can mean an average of $29,300 – $30,5002 in student debt while a trade or technical school degree carries a debt of $10,0003. So, college graduates can carry an additional $20,000 in debt and may take 10 – 20 years to pay off their loans while trade school graduates may retire their debt in under 10 years.
When adjusted for debt and time to income, the financial advantage of a college track becomes less clear.
3. An Aging Workforce Nearing Retirement
A large portion of the current trades workforce is approaching retirement. According to an article in The Washington Post, the manufacturing industry may be in need of 3.8 million new workers by 20314. Additionally, the median age of skilled trades workers is 46—several years older than the average across all industries.
4. Gaps in Skills and Training
As new workers enter the trades, they don’t always come with the skills employers need. Technology is changing fast in industries like construction and manufacturing, and many training programs haven’t caught up. A 2023 report from the National Skills Coalition found that 70% of trades employers had trouble finding workers with the right technical abilities.5
From new tools to digital systems, staying up to date is essential. But too often, the training available falls short of what’s happening on the job site.
Closing the Gap
If we want to build a stronger future for the trades, we need to start by rebuilding awareness in schools, addressing compensation inequities, preparing for the retirement wave, and modernizing how we train the next generation. The opportunity is there—we just need to be proactive.
Footnotes
1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
2 Education Data Initiative and Business Insider Report
3 The Live Wire – May, 2024
4 The Varied Issues Facing American Manufacturing – May 28, 2025
5 National Skills Coalition, Skills Mismatch Report, 2023