A recent report from Lightcast, an international employment consulting firm, found that skilled trades occupations in the US face an annual nationwide shortage of 1.3 million workers, with three job openings for every individual who completes a postsecondary or training program in the skilled trades.
Examples of skilled trades occupations identified by the researchers include farm equipment technicians, sheet metal workers, gas plant operators and wind turbine service technicians.
In total, 135 skilled trades occupations were identified which make up 9% of all U.S. jobs, about 20 million workers, and the unemployment rate for skilled trades industries is near an all-time 20-year low. Seven of the top 10 most in-demand occupations facing labor shortages, including carpenters, painters and supervisors of construction and extraction workers.