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Well, the subject heading of this post is like a big Duh!, but I’ve noticed something the last few jobs.
Don’t see many kids on the jobs anymore. We’ve all grown up and replacements are not coming in. The last two jobs have guys well over 40 for each trade. In fact, the youngest guy I met was a drywaller and he was 38.
Guess that shortage thang has become more than a platitude.
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Replies
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Well, the subject heading of this post is like a big Duh!, but I've noticed something the last few jobs.
Don't see many kids on the jobs anymore. We've all grown up and replacements are not coming in. The last two jobs have guys well over 40 for each trade. In fact, the youngest guy I met was a drywaller and he was 38.
Guess that shortage thang has become more than a platitude.
You’re absolutely right—it’s hard not to notice how the trades are aging, and the next generation isn’t showing up in the numbers we need. Seeing job sites where the “youngest guy” is in his late 30s really underscores how critical this issue has become.
The shortage isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a real challenge that’s been building for decades. Part of the problem is that we haven’t been showing younger workers why the trades are worth their time. The freedom, the job satisfaction (80% compared to 50% across all jobs), and the potential to build your own business are huge selling points that often go unnoticed.
I actually wrote an article about this recently: How Smart Marketing Can Help Your Trades Business Attract Young Workers During the Labour Shortage:
https://woodhouseweb.ca/trades-marketing-young-workers/
It focuses on using strategies like social media and company branding to appeal to younger talent while showing how the trades can provide meaningful, lucrative careers.
Would love to hear your thoughts—how do you think we can make the trades more appealing to the next generation?
It is an important issue. One thing I noticed growing up in 90’s a lot of tradesmen were encouraging their kids to go into computer related fields instead of the trades because the perception was it’s easier and more lucrative.
I have noticed lately the idea that college and the massive costs associated with it are out of reach and I have seen a few kids in my neighborhood go straight into the carpenters union right out of high school with the hopes of skipping the debt and retiring early.
Overall I don’t see our society putting much emphasis on working hard. It kind of seems like a lot of people think you’re a sucker for doing that when you could be a content creator or influencer which seems a lot cooler to most people.