The Skilled Trades Industry Has Started 2025 on Fire
There are three key points from the state of the skilled trades this quarter:
- People are joining the trades at the highest rates in over a generation.
- Demand for Electricians and Manufacturing professionals is skyrocketing.
- Likely a result of the Presidential election and subsequent immigration policy changes, the General Labor industry is undergoing massive changes.
So, let’s dive into the State of the Trades and see how to use this data to make better decisions and grow your business.
- Although negative stigmas surrounding the trades continue to exist, the secret is out…the skilled trades offer incredible compensation, growth, and intrinsic career opportunities. Young people, women, and Veterans are turning to the trades at levels not seen since WW2.
- Since November, 42% of BlueRecruit Job Seekers have been female, 49% are under the age of 35, and 11% are Veterans.
- Along with the increase in individuals pursuing the trades, hiring is up an astounding 376% for Q4-2024 to Q1-2025 compared to that same period a year ago.
- So how do we keep this momentum going? Employers, it is on you to provide continuous training and mentorship opportunities. It is imperative for maintaining a competitive edge that your employees are continuously learning and developing their skillsets. You may say, “Well that is a great idea, but how do I possibly pay for such training?” No worries, most states provide apprenticeship setup resources and many even provide financial assistance. Visit our Apprenticeship Program guide to learn more and get your own program started.
- The demand for electricians and manufacturing professionals is the highest in the history of the SoTT.
- Making up three of the eight most in demand trades this quarter, demand and compensation for Electricians, Fabricators, and Manufacturing Technicians all increased compared to Q4-2024.
- Even the Great State of Michigan, home to the most manufacturing professionals in the US, saw the highest demand in its history.
- Electricians saw an average compensation increase of $0.76 phr compared to Q4. Without taking overtime into account, that is an average increase of annual salary of $1,580.80.
- As immigration enforcement and deportations take center stage in the national media, the effects are being seen across the trades.
- The requirement for a clean criminal record by employers increased by an astounding 10% compared to Q4. This is the single largest increase in a single quarter in the history of the SoTT, and shows a clear policy change by employers nationwide.
- The average General Laborer compensation increased by $2.40. This too being the largest single quarter increase yet witnessed for this demographic and likely highlights the shift of employers hiring legal employees at market rates.
- Texas, which shares the nation’s longest border with Mexico, regained the top spot as the state with the most hires for the first time since Q2-2022.
- While the argument can be made that such immigration reforms will increase labor cost and further worsen a tight labor market, it is our position that these policy changes will ultimately prove beneficial for US workers and help develop the next generation of skilled workers seeking entry-level positions.
Meet BlueRecruit – Built for the Trades
BlueRecruit is a direct-hire marketplace for skilled-trade workers who want to build their careers and the companies seeking their talent. They remove the inefficiencies of resumes and job posts and focus on the skills, certifications, and experiences that matter. Follow them on social for more great industry insights and talent acquisition best practices.