Why This Matters to Distributors: Labor shortages continue to constrain distributors and their contractor customers despite rising wages and strong worker satisfaction. As demand grows across construction, manufacturing and infrastructure markets, limited hiring, weak apprenticeship participation, and inadequate workforce training threaten project schedules, installation capacity, and long-term industry growth.
Strong wages and high job satisfaction have done little to ease the shortage of skilled trade workers, leaving employers across construction, manufacturing and transportation struggling to fill open positions, according to a new ZipRecruiter study.
The report, based on a survey of 1,500 U.S. trade workers, found the typical tradesperson earns $65,000 annually. More than three-quarters (77%) said they would choose a career in the trades again, while 82% said they would recommend the profession to younger workers. Despite those positive indicators, employers continue to face a shortage of qualified workers as demand hiring outpaces.
Half (45%) of respondents said they regularly perform the work of more than one person because of understaffing, while 18% said they do so every day. More than one-third (35%) reported working a second job or side business, most often performing freelance work in their trade.
The findings align with recent federal labor data cited in the report showing job openings increased 34% over the past year in construction and 32% in manufacturing. The report also pointed to continued demand for workers in solar energy, wind power, electrical power generation, electrical equipment manufacturing, electrical equipment manufacturing, electrical work and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning occupations.
The report found the pipeline into skilled trades remains informal. Half of respondents said they learned their trade primarily on the job, while 32% said they were self-taught or learned through friends or family. Only 14% completed a formal apprenticeship, although workers who did reported higher median earnings than those who entered the trades through informal pathways.
Artificial intelligence and automation are changing how work is performed but are not replacing skilled workers, according to the survey. Only 7.9% of respondents said automation or AI have reduced demand for their skills. Instead, 55% said technology has changed the tools they use without reducing workloads, while 37% said it has made their jobs easier or safer. One-quarter (23%) said they use AI tools regularly, and another 39% use them occasionally.
The study also identified a lack of employer investment in workforce development. Only 17% of respondents said their employer provides extensive training on automation technologies, while 37% reported having access to a formal mentorship program. One-third described turnover at their company as high or exceedingly high.
ZipRecruiter concluded that expanding apprenticeship programs, increasing formal skills training and creating clearer pathways into the trades will be necessary to meet growing labor demand as infrastructure investment, manufacturing expansion and electrification projects continue to accelerate.
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