ASSOCIATION CONNECTION

The construction skilled trades are facing serious labor shortages, and have been for some time. The COVID pandemic only enhanced this issue, leaving trade leaders desperate to fill positions, and often putting themselves back in the field to mitigate delays. In many cases, there are more job openings than there are eligible workers to fill them, leaving contractors scrambling to recruit workers. What is Causing this Gap? The primary issue that has only been worsening in recent years is the lack of awareness about skilled trade career opportunities among young people. High school students are often fed a narrative that makes college seem like the only pathway to success, therefore disregarding other non-traditional career paths including the trades. Those in the skilled trades are aware that that is not at all the case. Trade schools and community colleges must be normalized as just as much of a viable pathway to success as four-year colleges. They provide the same resources for students to gain knowledge and experience to help them figure out the career they want to pursue. The only difference is time and money spent; programs at trade schools often take less than four years to complete and tend to cost less than a traditional four-year university. Construction Trades Myths 1. The trades are best suited for students who don’t do well in school. The trades offer fantastic career opportunities for all, not just those who don’t see college as the right fit. Just like colleges do, trade schools teach valuable life skills alongside curriculum, such as critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. Trade school should be viewed as a more accessible option for those who wish to have a thriving and successful career, not as a secondary option to a four-year college. Those who enter the trades have plenty of opportunity to succeed and thrive within their industry. Project manager, business owner, and inspector are just a few of the many prestigious positions you can work your way up to in the trades. 2. Salaries are low in the construction trades. The misconception that skilled trade salaries are is not only harmful, but also incorrect. As the value of a bachelor’s degree depreciates, worker shortages in the trades push wages higher and higher as employers desperately look to attract new workers. Median Construction Trades Salaries as of 2020 Boilermaker $65,360 Construction & Building Inspectors $62,860 Electrician $56,900 Ironworker $53,210 Sheet Metal Worker $51,370 Carpenter $49,520 Insulation Contractor $45,820 Median salaries gathered from the Bureau of Labor Statistics In addition, because of favoritism toward four-year colleges and bachelor’s degrees, the trades are experiencing shortages in workers. As a result, many jobs in the trades have only seen salaries and wages increase as demand skyrockets, providing even more opportunity to prospective workers. 3. All jobs in the construction trades are physically demanding and dangerous. Safety is the number one priority for construction companies. There are plenty of rules and regulations in place to protect employees and provide a safe working environment. 4. There are years of training before you can even start working. Many programs in the construction industry allow students to “earn while they learn,” incentivizing the younger generation to enhance their skills and knowledge in the field while getting paid. Employers of the trades are dedicated to creating a work environment that facilitates growth, learning, success, and fulfillment. According to Best Colleges, a trade school education on average costs a total of $33,000, which is roughly equivalent to the price of a single year's tuition at a four-year college. Additionally, trade school tends to be more streamlined, often assisting students in getting jobs through the school’s industry ties and securing them recession-proof, future-proof work (as we saw with the COVID pandemic, in which many of the trades were deemed essential work). How our clients are working to close the gap: Our clients are dedicated to ensuring the success and longevity of the trades, and teaching the younger generation about its importance and legitimacy as a career choice. ADS works side by side with clients to help with these efforts, including but not limited to the following: Participation in college and career fairs at local high schools, colleges, and trade schools Development of scholarship programs, apprenticeships opportunities and online learning resources Partnerships with local community organizations Partnerships with local politicians, who are working toward building awareness for the skilled trades Events and committees for young people or those new to the industry Creating a sense of community within the trades by strengthening association participation and engagement

For many this may be the first time you have even heard of an association management company (AMC), but it shouldn’t be the last. For trade organizations, not-for-profits and member societies, enlisting the services of an AMC can be extremely beneficial. AMCs have been helping organizations, for more than a century, run effectively and efficiently with their wide scope of services.