Angi, a leading and comprehensive solution for home improvement and maintenance, recently released itsSkilled Trades in America report.
The report highlights a trend that stands in stark contrast to anxieties in many sectors: exceptionally high job satisfaction in the skilled trades industry.
While concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) replacing jobs are prevalent across industries, skilled trades professionals report feeling secure. According to Angi’s data, a staggering 90% of tradespeople are satisfied with their careers, and that number has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic. This high level of satisfaction stands out when compared to other industries.
“Jobs across industries—from software development to media, and research to education—could face job loss as a result of AI,” says Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi. “But skilled professionals are resting easy. The significant majority have no concerns about AI taking over their jobs; in fact half of the pros we surveyed are excited to see how AI innovation can help them.”
Key Report Findings
- Safe from AI: While new AI technology is expected to disrupt many industries, 65% of surveyed professionals believe that their job in the trade labor market is safe from being threatened by AI. Only 11% have concerns.
- Job satisfaction: Job satisfaction in skilled trades remains remarkably high, with approximately 90% of tradespeople satisfied with their choice of work. This is up from 83% prior to the pandemic. Pros cited finding meaning and value in their work, as well as overall compensation and flexible work hours.
- Labor shortage woes: Over 66% of employers agree that they would be able to grow their business if they could find more quality skilled workers, and nearly 40% said they could not find employees to fill open positions. In order to attract employees, incentive offerings include health insurance, above average wages, and flexible work schedules.
- Younger generation outlook: Nearly 70% of tradespeople view the labor shortage as a problem today, as compared to 77% in 2021. Workers aged 25-44 tend to be more optimistic about the future of the shortage, yet they are more likely to say younger people are not joining the trades due to stigmas surrounding trade roles.
- Solutions: Pros cited the top two reasons for scant entrants to these fields as historical stigma and a lack of exposure to trade careers paths in high school. Sixty-five percent said increased investment in high school trade preparation programs would help address this, while 54% felt more should be invested in trade schools.
Trade Up Initiatives
In all, the report identifies the skilled labor shortage as a pressing challenge. To address this gap, Angi has launched the Angi Trade Up Initiatives as a comprehensive program designed to attract new talent to the trades:
- Angi Trade Up Scholarship Program: This program will provide scholarships for students pursuing construction-related trade school training programs. The goal is to address both the lack of exposure and potential financial barriers.
- Angi x BlueRecruit Partnership: By connecting job seekers on BlueRecruit, a the trades job platform, with pros in the Angi network, the idea is to tackle the issue of limited recruitment pipelines.
- Angi Trade Up PSA Campaign: Webinars, podcasts, and social media content are being created to raise awareness about the benefits of skilled trade careers, with a mission of directly combating the stigma around the trades and a lack of exposure.
“These are highly satisfying and secure jobs, critical to America’s infrastructure and economy,” Hicks says. “More people are starting to recognize this, but we need to continue to educate new job seekers about the incredible potential a career in the skilled trades holds. Through these initiatives, we’re working to bridge the gap and ensure a strong future for the skilled trade industry.”
The complete report can be read here.
Source: Angi, research.angi.com/research.