2022 Trends in Skilled Trades
Aside from what's on the 2022 horizon, one thing is for sure: things will evolve and change and the ever-resilient construction industry will continue steadily to pave the best way to the future.
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With 2021 officially behind us and with the planet around us changing by when, most are wondering what the skilled trade industry will bring us in 2022. Despite having the US getting back in a work routine, the pandemic labor shortages are still at the forefront of everyone's mind - wrecking havoc on project timelines and plans.
The existing labor shortage may be caused by multiple factors including having less trained workers, the rise in unemployment numbers, and the fact that many skilled trades workers were laid off consequently of carpenter jobs companies closing their doors for a brief period of time. As the industry becomes adjusted to the brand new reality of living with the ebbs and flows of Covid, and as the US economy attempts to normalize as well, it is a must that the industry begins to consider how exactly to re-staff the workforce in 2022. Guidelines my key takeaways as I consider what this new year will look like for the industry:
1. Technology Will Lead the Way
The architecture, engineering, and construction industry (AEC) is not just a sector known to adopt new technologies quickly. When change does come, it moves at a glacial pace.
Learning an experienced trade takes lots of hands-on training and years of experience to perfect your chosen trade but the training may be unsage and expensive when on a jobsite. With virtual reality, workers can train in a simulated, life-like environment and construction equipment training simulators are becoming more prevalent and accepted in the construction industry. VR simulators allow vocational and trade school students to get familiar with their tools and equipment with no dangers connected with real equipment.
2. Unemployed Americans are Looking for Stable Jobs
As the pandemic has been an unsettling time for some, the skilled trades industry has shown to be one of the most stable and steady elements of the workforce. People looking to find jobs in these skilled trades can get great opportunities and hard to find stability. The jobs that numerous individuals will transition to following a pandemic include roles like these. Lots of people in industries more impacted by layoffs, like restaurant and retail, are seeking a hands-on job similar to the one they'd before the pandemic hit.
3. The Skilled Labor Shortage will Continue to be a Challenge
Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we're planning to need more than four million skilled laborers to replace the nearly eight million lost from the labor force throughout the pandemic. The industry will probably be challenged filling those positions, due to the proven fact that the skills needed have been in high demand. The pandemic has not only created a massive labor shortage, but many baby boomers who have left the industry have chosen not to return and have plumped for early retirement as opposed to time for the workplace. Still others are reluctant to return to benefit health reasons, particularly when they have connection with others or if they are employed in employment that will require face-to-face contact.
4. Companies will Continue to Focus on Attracting a Younger Workforce
The trade education pipeline continues to be full of talented skilled trades graduates. The process will continue being reaching talent exiting the institution system, and more to the point establishing your own personal programs and educational partnerships. Consider establishing an in-house apprenticeship program or partner with nearby high schools and colleges with Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings. Better yet, offer both training tracks, because one could be a better fit than others dependant on living circumstances of students.
Apprenticeships and Career and Technical Education programs have been in the midst of a huge resurgence, spurred by the critical skills shortages. Odds are good that there are local programs—offered through schools or government initiatives—where your company will offer expertise and support. If there aren't existing programs, you are able to help create one from the bottom up.
5. Skilled Trade Jobs Could Solve Labor Shortage
There are many unfilled jobs in the U.S. today. Do-it-yourself projects and a competitive housing market have driven the escalation in demand for skilled workers carpenter jobs. Filling these available jobs may be the first step nevertheless the deeper answer lies in training and retaining talent once they have been hired ultimately causing longer standing employment and a real new workforce to replace the mass amount of workers which have retired from the skilled trade industry.
Aside from what's on the 2022 horizon, one thing is for sure: things will evolve and change and the ever-resilient construction industry will continue steadily to pave the best way to the future.
