Report: 1.7 Million Skilled Trade Jobs to Open Annually Through 2035

Jobs in the skilled trades are projected to open at a rate of 1.7 million per year through 2035, according to a new report, even as the industry struggles to keep up with demand, an aging workforce, and persistently high turnover rates.

The findings highlight a growing mismatch between the volume of available positions in fields such as construction, manufacturing, and other hands-on trades, and the pipeline of workers prepared to fill them.

An aging workforce

A significant share of the current skilled trades workforce is nearing retirement age, compounding the challenge of replacing experienced workers as they leave the labor force. At the same time, high turnover in many trade roles means employers are frequently re-recruiting for positions that were recently filled.

Industry groups have in recent years pushed for greater investment in vocational training and apprenticeship programs to address the shortfall, arguing that traditional four-year degree paths have drawn younger workers away from the trades.

The scale of projected openings suggests the labor shortage in these fields is likely to persist for years absent a significant shift in how younger workers are recruited and trained for trade careers.

Employers and policymakers are increasingly looking at ways to make trade careers more attractive, including wage increases, clearer career progression, and expanded training partnerships with schools and community colleges.