Right now, North America is facing a massive skilled trades shortage of over 500,000 workers — including HVAC technicians, electricians, plumbers, welders, carpenters, and mechanics.
In this video, I break down the real reason the trades are struggling to find workers, why this shortage is getting worse, and why it matters more than most people realize. For decades, students were told that college was the only path to success, while skilled trades were treated as a backup option. Shop classes disappeared, technical programs were cut, and entire generations were pushed away from hands-on careers.
At the same time, Baby Boomer tradespeople are retiring, taking decades of real-world knowledge with them — and there aren’t enough new workers stepping in to replace them. Meanwhile, college tuition and student debt exploded, leaving many graduates underpaid and overqualified, while skilled trades careers quietly offered:
• Paid apprenticeships • Earn-while-you-learn opportunities • Little to no student debt • Strong job security • Six-figure earning potential in many trades
As an HVAC and refrigeration technician with over 16 years in the trades, I’ve watched this shortage unfold in real time. In this video, we cover:
• Why the skilled trades worker shortage exists • How retiring tradespeople are impacting the workforce • The truth about trade careers vs college careers • Why HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and welding jobs are in high demand • How the trades are becoming more advanced with technology and automation • Why now is one of the BEST times to enter a trade career If you’re a student, parent, teacher, or someone considering a career change, this video will completely change how you look at the trades.
Society depends on people who can build, fix, install, and maintain the systems that keep everything running — and that demand isn’t going anywhere.
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