The Skilled Trades Are Running Out of Workers (And No One Seems to Care)
You see it every day—worksites short-staffed, businesses scrambling to find talent, and young people who have no idea that a career in the trades could change their lives. Instead, they’re racking up student debt for degrees they don’t even want while trade jobs sit empty, offering six-figure potential and real job security.
Meanwhile, the whole world acts like this isn’t a problem. Society keeps pushing the outdated idea that college is the only way to success, leaving the trades overlooked. Schools aren’t talking about it, parents don’t understand it, and kids think “working with your hands” means being some second-class citizen.
Let’s be real: If we don’t change that narrative, the skills gap will keep growing, and one day, there won’t be enough hands to keep things running. When that happens, plumbers will be making more than doctors (which actually wouldn’t be the worst thing ever).
Here’s the deal: If you’re in the trades today, you have the power to shape tomorrow. And if you don’t? Well, don’t complain when you’re waiting six months to get your water heater replaced.
What Happens If We Do Nothing? (Spoiler: It’s Bad)
Think about this—what if, five years from now, your company can’t find a single qualified worker? What if the industry’s best skills and techniques die out because no one is left to pass them down? What if YOU have to keep crawling under houses at 60 years old because there’s no one to take your place?
This isn’t some distant, abstract problem. It’s already happening. The people keeping America running—electricians, plumbers, welders, mechanics—are retiring faster than they’re being replaced. If we don’t act now, the next generation won’t stand a chance, and we’ll all pay the price in higher costs, lower quality, and jobs that simply don’t get done.
And let’s be honest—if we don’t step up, it’s partly on us.
How You Can Pay It Forward—Starting Today
You don’t have to start a revolution—just take a simple action that inspires, teaches, or opens a door for someone younger. Here’s how you can make an impact right now:
🔥 Be a Mentor – Spot a young worker who’s eager to learn? Take them under your wing. A little guidance today can turn them into a skilled professional tomorrow. Imagine if someone had done that for you earlier in your career.
🔥 Speak Up at Schools – Most students never hear about the trades as a real career option. Volunteer at a school, share your story, and show them what’s possible. Make it real for them—talk about the money, the independence, the freedom from college debt.
🔥 Hire an Apprentice – Got your own business? Bring in an apprentice and train them the right way. You’ll get extra hands, and they’ll get a life-changing career. Plus, let’s be honest—after a while, YOU could use a little less heavy lifting.
🔥 Show Off Your Trade – Post your work online, tell your story, and counter the false idea that trades aren’t lucrative or fulfilling. Trust me, people LOVE seeing a before-and-after of a well-done job, and it’s an easy way to shift perceptions.
🔥 Teach Hands-On Skills – Have kids, nieces, nephews, or neighbors? Show them how to use tools, fix things, and build confidence in their abilities. If you don’t, they’ll grow up thinking the only way to fix a toilet is to call a YouTube influencer who barely knows what a wrench is.
🔥 Support Trade Schools – Advocate for vocational training, support local trade programs, and encourage more young people to explore hands-on careers. Let’s make sure they have the right training, not just YouTube University.
Your Challenge: Take One Step This Week
(Or Quit Complaining)
You don’t have to do everything at once—just pick ONE action from the list and commit to it this week. Maybe it’s talking to a young person about your job. Maybe it’s sharing a post about why you love your work. Maybe it’s calling out the myths about trades in a school meeting. Whatever it is, just start.
Because the future of the trades isn’t someone else’s problem—it’s ours. And if we don’t act now, we’ll be the ones suffering later.
💬 Drop a comment: What’s one way YOU’RE paying it forward?
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