National Skilled Trades Day is a holiday that falls on the first Wednesday in May and celebrates the skilled workers who keep society running. The construction, healthcare, service, and manufacturing industries rely on skilled tradespeople to perform important jobs. It is a day to acknowledge that skilled trades are a viable alternative to college for some people and that they perform an important role in our society.

The History of National Skilled Trades Day

National Skilled Trades Day was created by City Machine Technologies to raise awareness of the fact that the U.S. is currently facing a skilled trades shortage. This industrial repair shop based in Youngstown, Ohio, was having trouble securing the skilled workers they needed to properly run their business, and they were concerned that this labor shortage might be hurting businesses all over the U.S. Therefore, they created this holiday to highlight the importance of skilled workers and to encourage people to enter the skilled trades field.

Interesting Facts About the Skilled Trades

To keep the focus on National Skilled Trades Day, we’ve decided to list some interesting facts about the current and potential future of the skilled trades in the U.S. The following facts should illustrate the importance of skilled trades to the U.S. and why it’s important for people to pursue a career in these fields.

• For every three tradespeople that retire, there is only one trained worker waiting to take the position.
• According to the U.S. BLS, approximately a third of all skilled workers are over the age of 50.
• It has been estimated that skilled laborers in the U.S. won’t catch up with demand until 2050.
• By 2030, almost 80 million skilled tradespeople will have retired, and only about 40 million new workers will enter the workforce.
• Apprenticeships allow trainees to gain real-world experience while they learn their craft.
• It is often more affordable for a student to pursue skilled trades training than it is to attend a 4-year college.
• While 4-year college students are often still in the classroom, many skilled laborers can be trained and working in only 2 years.
• As of 2018, the average salary for entry-level sheet metal workers was over $52,000 a year in the U.S.
• Most skilled laborers work in the same field where they trained, unlike college students who may have a degree in one field while working in another.
• The job market for most trades is wide open because skilled laborers are always in demand.
• Electricians can earn over $27 an hour.
• Welders can earn over $20 an hour.
• Plumbers can earn over $26 an hour.

Observing National Skilled Trades Day

Observing this holiday can be done by spreading the word about it among friends and online using the hashtag #NationalSkilledTradesDay. It is also a day when parents can support their children who are considering going into the skilled trades. This is also a good day for schools, communities, and business associations to run open houses and job fairs to encourage people to pursue a skilled trades career.