U.S. Faces Critical Shortage of 1.7 Million Skilled-Trades Workers Annually Through 2035
A new report from the Ford-backed Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades indicates that the U.S. needs to fill approximately 1.7 million skilled-trades job openings each year until 2035. The study highlights a significant demographic imbalance within the skilled trades workforce, with nearly a quarter of workers aged 55 or older, while only 11% are younger than 25. The country is currently preparing only about 55 workers for every 100 needed nationally through formal training pathways. This shortage is not uniform across all trades; industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights face the highest shortage pressure, ranking at the 98th percentile nationally among 523 occupations. Electricians are at the 85th percentile, and automotive technicians at the 54th percentile. The report also notes that the labor challenge is compounded by regional variations, with some states gaining skilled workers through interstate migration while others experience significant losses.
