Why the Trades Still Matter A Veteran Builders Take on the Skills Shortage

A Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight

The world needs builders. Yet fewer people are choosing careers in the trades, even as demand grows. Homes still need to be built. Roads still need repair. Electrical systems still need skilled hands. But across the U.S., trade workers are retiring faster than new ones are coming in.

This shortage is no longer a prediction. It’s happening now.
According to the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the construction industry will need over 500,000 additional workers this year to meet current demand. The gap is growing, and the consequences are already visible—slower projects, higher costs, and fewer qualified workers on job sites.

Veteran superintendent Shawn Mayers, who has spent more than 30 years in residential construction, sees the issue up close. “I walk onto sites where half the crew is undertrained,” he says. “They’re trying, but they didn’t have someone to teach them the basics like I had. That’s where things break down.”

The trades matter now more than ever. And if young workers don’t enter the field, the workforce will face problems that no software update can fix.

Why Fewer Young People Choose the Trades

The shortage didn’t appear overnight. It has roots.

For decades, schools pushed the idea that college was the only path to success. Students were told trades were a last resort. This stigma stuck. Meanwhile, tuition skyrocketed, and trade programs shrank.

At the same time, many young workers don’t realise how much tradespeople earn. A skilled electrician or plumber often makes $60,000 to $90,000 a year, sometimes more. Many start businesses in their twenties. Many avoid student debt entirely.

“I wish someone had told us the real numbers back in the late ’80s,” Mayers says. “Kids today still don’t hear the truth. They think it's low pay and long hours. But it’s good pay and steady work if you take pride in it.”

A lack of awareness leads to a lack of interest. And without interest, the trades lose fresh talent.

What Happens When the Skills Vanish

The biggest danger isn’t empty job sites. It’s what happens to quality.

Construction is a craft. Good work takes time to learn. A seasoned carpenter sees mistakes before they appear. A trained electrician understands risks that a novice cannot. Without experience, the work suffers.

The National Center for Construction Education and Research found that 41% of current skilled workers plan to retire by 2031. That means nearly half the industry’s knowledge could disappear in less than a decade.

“If we don’t pass down what we know,” Mayers warns, “we’ll have whole neighborhoods built by people who never had a mentor. That scares me more than any shortage number.”

Quality homes, safe buildings, and reliable infrastructure all depend on skill—and skill depends on people.

Why the Trades Still Matter in a High-Tech World

Even with leaps in automation, the trades remain essential. Machines help, but they don’t replace human judgment.

Robots can lift heavy beams but can’t adjust to warped lumber.
Software can draw plans but can’t fix a tricky plumbing angle on-site.
AI can suggest materials but can’t diagnose a strange sound in an HVAC system.

The world we live in—every home, hospital, shop, school—is built by people with hands-on skill. That won’t change.

Construction also feeds innovation. New materials, greener systems, and smarter buildings all require skilled workers to bring ideas from the drawing board into reality.

What Makes the Trades a Strong Career Choice

Reliable Work

People always need housing, repairs, and upgrades. Weather disasters alone create thousands of urgent jobs every year.

Strong Pay Without Debt

Apprentices earn while they learn. Many tradespeople own homes and businesses by their early thirties.

Clear Growth Paths

Workers can move from apprentice to journeyman to foreman to superintendent. Some branch out into teaching, inspections, or entrepreneurship.

Work You Can See

Many young people crave meaningful work. Building something real—something that families live in or communities rely on—offers a sense of pride that’s hard to match.

Lessons from a Veteran Builder

Shawn Mayers built his career from the ground up. He understands the trade shortage because he sees its impact daily. His advice for young workers is honest and blunt.

“On my first crew, the older guys didn’t let me cut a board for a week,” he laughs. “They made me watch, measure, and measure again. I hated it. But when I finally got to cut, I was ready. Today, new workers want to jump ahead. Patience is the first skill they need.”

He also stresses something many overlook: “Tradespeople aren’t just workers. They’re planners, problem-solvers, and leaders. A job site is like a puzzle every day.”

His message is clear: if you show up, ask questions, and learn, the trades can give you a stable and rewarding life.

How to Close the Skills Gap

1. Bring Back Trade Education in Schools

Students need hands-on programs again. Shop classes, trade camps, and partnerships with local contractors can spark interest early.

2. Promote Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships combine paid work with training. They remove financial barriers and build skill faster than college programs.

3. Encourage Mentorship

Experienced workers must teach the next generation. Shadowing and on-the-job training carry knowledge better than any textbook.

4. Respect the People Who Build Our World

Cultural respect matters. When society values tradespeople, more young workers want to join them.

5. Spread Real Information

Share actual pay ranges, success stories, and career opportunities. Myths fade when facts spread.

What Young Workers Can Do Today

Try Small Projects at Home

Fix a fence. Build a shelf. Help a neighbor. Small tasks build basic skill and spark interest.

Visit Local Job Sites

Ask questions. Most crews welcome enthusiasm.

Apply for an Apprenticeship

Many require no experience. Just dedication.

Talk to a Tradesperson

Ask them how they learned. Ask what they love. Real stories inspire real decisions.

Be Ready to Work Hard

The trades reward effort, not shortcuts.

The Future Depends on Skilled Hands

If the skills shortage continues, communities will feel the impact for decades. But if young workers step up—and if schools, companies, and leaders support them—the trades can thrive again.

And the world will benefit. Homes will be stronger. Projects will be safer. Careers will be steadier.

As Mayers puts it: “You can’t build anything lasting without skilled hands. And those hands don’t appear out of thin air. We need to train them, respect them, and keep the craft alive.”

The trades still matter—not just for workers, but for everyone who lives in the world they build.