The world needs to know that the trades are a lucrative and creative career path, not just a last resort.
Christof Becker
Senior Vice President of Operations & Supply Chain Americas, Henkel
How can we reframe what it means to work in the trades?
Roles in skilled trades give employees the chance to work on diverse and talented teams while learning about the manufacturing process, having stability with consistent hours, and opening doors for various career paths. These jobs are critical to the production of essential items that consumers rely on and benefit from every day. Not everyone can proudly look at products on a store shelf and say, “I had a hand in making that.”
What tools and resources have you seen being the most effective in elevating the lives and work of modern trades professionals?
Offering educational assistance has allowed skilled trade workers to advance their knowledge and skills and earn even higher salaries by progressing into different career roles. Increasingly, a broader range of family-friendly benefits are being offered across the board, such as paid parental leave in addition to traditional paid time off.
Why is it important to encourage the younger generation to take up a career in the trades?
A manufacturing job serves as a good calibrating entry to a career of hands-on work that leads to a deep understanding of manufacturing as part of the value chain. This is where true value is created.
Ed Brady
President & CEO, Home Builders Institute (HBI)
How can we reframe what it means to work in the trades?
The building industry needs to think outside of the box as we work together to recruit new talent. We need to get kids excited about the trades beginning at a younger age. We need to recruit more women, minorities, veterans, new American citizens, secondary school students, and persons reentering society after leaving the justice system. We have the opportunity to attract and train previously untapped populations to fill the skills gap and create a welcoming environment within the construction industry. Telling these stories will shift the narrative and convey our industry as one that is diverse, inclusive, and well-paying.
What tools and resources have you seen being the most effective in elevating the lives and work of modern trades professionals?
Home Builders Institute (HBI) has a number of solutions to elevate the lives of trades professionals around the country. In HBI’s Academy training model, we offer free training-including employability training, and we guide students through a step-by-step process designed to take them from beginners to pre-apprenticeship tradespeople. All HBI students have access to our learning management system offering online courses, virtual training, and other tools to further their skills.
Why is it important to encourage the younger generation to take up a career in the trades?
Right now, we are facing a labor market shortage that has reached crisis levels. The construction industry needs to add 2.2 million new skilled workers over the next three years to keep up with housing demand. That means we need to place 740,000 workers into construction jobs each year for the next three years. These numbers are staggering and the lack of skilled construction labor continues to weaken the housing supply and affordability. We are in a new era of need that requires an all-hands-on-deck approach to build the next generation of skilled workers. If we expose younger students to technical education, show young girls that women belong in the industry, and let high school graduates know that this is a viable and debt-free career path, we can begin to solve this nationwide problem.
Brian Ciciora
CEO, Truewerk
How can we reframe what it means to work in the trades?
As a society, we need to stop positioning life in the trades as a less desirable option or a second choice for individuals that don’t follow the traditional high school to four-year college track. We’re lucky to have a network of ambassadors that share this same message with their communities: Life in the trades allows for more flexibility, freedom to spend time with your loved ones, time to chase your hobbies outside of work, the chance to use creativity and critical thinking daily, not to mention the opportunity to earn an honest living doing something you love.
What tools and resources have you seen being the most effective in elevating the lives and work of modern trades professionals?
Most workwear is stuck in the past, leaving trade professionals in outdated fabrics that restrict movement and don’t breathe. Using inspiration from industry-leading outdoor and sports brands, Truewerk lets performance fabrics drive our product stories to create workwear that stretches, wicks, protects, and moves with you. Just as modern trade professionals have adapted to technological advances in their tools and processes, we believe their workwear should be on the cutting edge of innovation.
Why is it important to encourage the younger generation to take up a career in the trades?
What is important is to think about what’s important to our neighbors and our communities. It takes people who want the skills and ability to make these things happen, and who want to perform what’s needed to build the future. The problems, obstacles, and opportunities we face require people to solve them.
Kyle Stumpenhorst
Owner & Operator, RR Buildings
How can we reframe what it means to work in the trades?
If kids grew up with the ability to learn the skills of the trades the same way they learn reading, writing, and arithmetic, they will be exposed to the joy and sense of accomplishment when working with their hands. Instead, they are told to go to college and get a job in the city, or in an office where they will supposedly make more money. While college and office life are perfect for some, it isn’t for everyone. The problem is society telling kids their only chance at success is college/office life. In my opinion, we need to reframe the trades at a young age.
What tools and resources have you seen being the most effective in elevating the lives and work of modern trades professionals?
The ability to learn and to teach through mediums like social media has already been a huge positive in the community. Ten years ago, you either had to go to a trade school, learn on the job over many years, join a union, or teach yourself with years of trial and error. Now you can spend time scouring the internet and find countless videos or blogs about a given topic. This provides a platform to educate the masses.
Why is it important to encourage the younger generation to take up a career in the trades?
I would say go for it. Not only are the trades an immensely rewarding career choice, but with all of today’s technology, and the growing choice of different methods and materials to work with, it is a place to make good money and create products to be proud of. As the baby boomers continue to retire and leave the workforce, there will be fewer and fewer competent individuals in the trades. This means a large gap to fill, and good money to be made for those that care and work hard.
