Blue Collar Revolution

For decades, fewer and fewer people chose to pursue careers in the trades. Many young people were steered toward college, and the result has been felt across virtually all blue-collar industries: a shrinking workforce, longer project timelines, and rising costs at nearly every stage of a job. Labor has been scarce, and when supply is short, prices inevitably rise at every turn.

That’s why the latest news is so encouraging. Reports show more than 4 in 10 Gen Zers are choosing skilled trades over college, and 62% of white-collar workers say they’d consider making the switch. Click here to read more.

For companies like ours, and for the communities we serve, this is welcome change. More talented people entering the trades means a stronger, more reliable workforce long-term. And when there’s enough skilled labor to meet demand, it helps keep projects on schedule and costs from spiraling upward.

At the end of the day, this is great news for everyone: a new generation of hard-working employees building careers in the trades, and people like you who depend on their skills to keep communities safe, looking great, and running smoothly.