A survey from Manpower Group – a well-known staffing and workforce development company – finds that job vacancies in the skilled trades are the hardest to fill in the country. For the seventh straight year, skilled trades topped the list.
This should be no surprise to ABC members, who have seen up close the difficulty of finding workers with the experience and skills necessary to work in construction.
In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be a shortage of 1.6 million skilled workers in the construction industry by 2022. Already, four out of five ABC member businesses are experiencing a lack of properly-skilled workers to fill open positions.
The Manpower survey showed that 32 percent of employers in the United States are facing difficulties when trying to fill positions.
This talent shortage is having quite an impact on businesses. According to the survey, 43 percent of respondents said it would have an effect on their ability to serve clients, and 32 percent said it would lead to higher compensation costs.
While the lack of qualified candidates continues in the skilled trades, this is good news for individuals hoping to go into industries like construction. Workers with the proper skills – or the ability to learn those skills – are in high demand.
That means younger Wisconsinites would be smart to think about a career in construction. ABC of Wisconsin is training nearly 1,000 apprentices this year. However, more skilled workers will be needed, as the Manpower survey clearly shows.
To find out more about a career in construction, click here.
