The United States will see 1.7 million skilled trade job openings each year through 2035, according to the State of America’s Skilled Trades report by Jobs for the Future and the Burning Glass Institute. This includes 600,000 new net positions added during the period. The shortage comes amid a retiring workforce, with only two new tradespeople entering for every five who retire, said Mike Rowe, host of Dirty Jobs, at a Ford Pro Accelerate panel.
Rowe highlighted the severity of the shortage by noting the impact on essential services like plumbing and electricity. The report attributes the surge in trade job demand to factors such as the AI boom requiring data center construction, increased defense production, and rising demand for affordable housing. Despite a 4.2% unemployment rate in September, trade job opportunities have expanded significantly, reflecting the sector’s critical role in the economy.
The skilled trades workforce, numbering 18 million, contributed an estimated $3.8 trillion to U.S. GDP last year. The growing demand for tradespeople contrasts with sluggish overall job growth, underscoring the importance of addressing the workforce gap. The report’s findings emphasize the need for targeted workforce development to fill the expanding number of trade positions and maintain essential infrastructure and services.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited in the report confirms the rising unemployment rate alongside the growing trade job openings. The next major workforce development initiatives are expected to focus on training and recruitment to meet the projected 1.7 million annual job openings in skilled trades through 2035.