đ§ Paradox 1: If Thereâs a Labor Shortage... Why Is It So Hard to Break In or Move Up?
đ Happy 4th of July Weekend! đŠ
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Paradox 1: Labor Shortage and can't break in!
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Youâve heard it a hundred times:
âThe trades are desperate for workers.â
And yet here you are,
applying everywhere
Still nothing long term.
đȘ The First Locked Door:
No Experience, No Entry
Welcome to Paradox #1: You canât get hired without experience.
Thatâs not your fault. Thatâs a system failure.
Nearly 70% of contractors are demanding "2â5 years experience" for entry-level jobs they canât even fill.
And it keeps getting worseâŠ
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2.1 million skilled jobs will go unfilled by 2030
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439,000 construction workers are needed this year
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Boomers are retiring with no one to replace them
- And the whole industry keeps bleeding talent and opportunity
The opportunity is real â but the access is locked up.
đ You're Not Crazy â The System Is
Itâs not laziness. Itâs not Gen Z being soft.
Old-timers had mentors. They were pulled in by uncles, foremen, journeymen who gave a damn.
Now? Itâs desperation with no time to train.
Crews are buried in work.
Talented people are burnt out (more on that next week)
Owners are frustrated â every job delay means lost money.
Hereâs what nobody tells you:
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Most trades jobs donât get posted.
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Experience doesnât always mean time â it means proof.
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You can build that proof, even without a job offer.
"I met two contractors while volunteering. One offered me a job by week two." â Apprentice, Colorado
If youâre stuck, itâs not about working harder. Itâs about working smarter to break through.
đ§ 3 Moves to Break the Paradox
Hereâs what weâve seen work â in real life, not theory:
đ§° 1. Volunteer With Build Crews
Habitat for Humanity. Local nonprofit jobsites. Even church builds.
Why? Because being on-site matters more than being online.
Be reliable. Take photos. Track what you do.
âBuild crewâ looks a hell of a lot better than âwaiting to be hired.â
⥠2. Get Quick Certs That Prove Youâre Serious
You can stand out in a week. Literally.
Start with:
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OSHA 10 or 30
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CPR / Forklift
Hiring managers use these to filter résumés.
"When comparing candidates, OSHA 10 is the first thing I look for."
â Electrical contractor, Texas
đ 3. Join Skilled Trade Rescue
Inside STR, youâll find:
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Tradespeople whoâve been where you are
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Real job and apprenticeship advice
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Weekly challenges to build your skills fast
đ itâs 100% free. No spam. Just real talk. skilledtraderescue.com
â Action Plan: This Week
Hereâs how to turn this newsletter into progress:
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Pick one trade. Not five. One. HVAC? Welding? Plumbing? Lock in.
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Find someone in it. Ask to shadow. Offer to help. Ask questions.
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Volunteer this weekend. Look up a local build. Show up ready.
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Knock out certifications. Takes a little time. Puts you ahead.
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Post in the STR community. Share whatâs working and what's not. Get feedback.
Youâre not waiting anymore. Youâre moving!
Connect on Skilled Trade Rescue
đ Bottom Line
The trades do need you. But they wonât hand it to you.
Youâve got to:
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Show up where it counts
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Stack proof fast
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Get connected
And if no oneâs showing you how? We are.
Break the Paradox with Skilled Trade Rescue
đ Want more? Next Saturday @ 9 AM PT â Paradox #2: Burnout and Breakdowns Getting in is just the start. Staying without wrecking your body and life? Thatâs key.
P.S. If this hit home, forward it to someone who's stuck wondering what the hell is going on. Bring them into the movement at SkilledTradeRescue!
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