For decades, the US put enormous energy into building its technology workforce. Now, Lightcast Senior Economist Ron Hetrick argues that we need to bring that same urgency to the skilled trades.
Because no matter how advanced technology becomes, someone still has to install the equipment, wire the systems, maintain the infrastructure, repair the HVAC, and do the physical work that keeps the economy moving.
And over the next decade, the US may not have enough people to do it.
In this video, Ron explains why the skilled trades workforce shortage has become so critical, why technology alone won’t solve it, and the difficult choices the US faces as demand for these workers continues to grow.
Learn more about the skilled trades workforce and what the data tells us about the road ahead from Lightcast.
Lightcast is the global leader in labor market intelligence, empowering smarter decisions for businesses, education institutions, and governments worldwide. With the world’s most comprehensive database—spanning over 3 billion job postings, over 1 billion career profiles, and 100+ government sources—Lightcast delivers unparalleled insight into skills, jobs, companies, professional profiles, and workforce trends across 150+ countries.
Our proprietary taxonomies, advanced AI, and expert guidance transform complex data into clear, actionable intelligence. And our data-driven insight enables better, faster decisions.
