Angi recently released its Skilled 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 AI replacing jobs are prevalent across industries, skilled trades professionals report feeling secure. According to Angi’s data, a staggering 90 percent of tradespeople are satisfied with their careers, a number that has grown since the pandemic.
“Jobs across industries–from software development to media to research to education–could face job loss as a result of AI, but skilled home professionals are resting easy,” said Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi. “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 serve homeowners better.”
Key findings from the Report:
- Safe from AI: While new AI technology is expected to disrupt many industries, 65 percent of surveyed pros believe that their job in the trade labor market is safe from being threatened by AI while only 11 percent have concerns.
- Job satisfaction: Job satisfaction in the trades remains remarkably high, with nearly 90 percent of tradespeople satisfied with their choice of work, increasing from 83 percent since the pandemic. Pros cited finding meaning and value in their work, the overall compensation, and flexible work hours.
- Labor shortage woes: More than 66 percent of pros agree that they would be able to grow their business if they could find more quality skilled workers, and nearly 40 percent of pros said they could not find employees to fill open positions. In order to attract employees, pros said they were offering incentives like health insurance, above average wages, and flexible work schedules.
- Younger generation outlook: Nearly 70 percent of tradespeople view the labor shortage as a problem vs. 77 percent since the pandemic. 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 a lack of exposure to trade careers paths in high school and historical stigma. Sixty-five percent of pros said increased investment in high school trade preparation programs would help address this; 54 percent felt more should be invested in trade schools.
The report identifies a pressing challenge – a skilled labor shortage impacting the industry. To address this gap, Angi has launched the Angi Trade Up Initiatives, a comprehensive program designed to attract new talent to the trades. This includes the Angi Trade Up Scholarship Program, the Angi x BlueRecruit Partnership, and the Angi Trade Up PSA Campaign.
Hicks continued: “These are highly satisfying and secure jobs, critical to America’s infrastructure and economy. 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 our Angi Trade Up Initiatives, we’re working to bridge the gap and ensure a strong future for the skilled trade industry.”