Why Skilled Trades Are The Next Hot Job Market

According to data compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics, “interest in attending trade school has nearly doubled among both teens and adults since 2017. In 2024 alone, search traffic is up 27%. University enrollment, on the other hand, has declined by 0.6% since the pandemic.”

Trade schools offer a practical, affordable, and time-efficient alternative to traditional college education. With focused programs, hands-on training, and strong job placement services, vocational schools prepare you for a successful career in a fraction of the time it takes to earn a four-year degree.

Experts agree that skilled trades are the next hot job market, and cite a few different reasons for this shift. First, the older generation of workers is hitting retirement age, leaving a noticeable gap in the workforce. Second, the growing demand for workers in specific industries like construction and maintenance services has increased the demand for workers with a very specific skill set. The increasing price of traditional four-year education is also causing many teens and young adults to rethink their educational journey and focus on skilled trades instead. 

If you’ve been considering your career education opportunities, read on to learn more about why skilled trades are the next hot job market and how acquiring these skills could be the first step toward your new career. 

Quick Training and Certification For Skilled Trades

Not everyone wants to spend years earning a degree that may or may not translate into a promising career. Those with an entrepreneurial spirit may look to learn a trade so they can quickly get trained and certified and start their own businesses. For example, the time it takes to complete trade school as an electrician averages anywhere from four months to a year, meaning electricians can be out of school and in the workforce much faster than those attending a four-year college. 

High Demand for Services In Skilled Trades

By 2030, as baby boomers reach retirement age, many industries will experience a significant shortage of skilled workers due to vacancies in various trades. This will drive a heightened demand for qualified professionals to fill these gaps, creating ample opportunities for skilled workers in fields such as construction, plumbing, electrical, and other essential trades.

In big cities like Los Angeles, a rapidly growing population and ever expanding infrastructure means that construction and related trades will remain in high demand. Buildings, roads, and other infrastructure will always need to be repaired, renovated and maintained, which will provide steady and consistent work for those who have these specific skills. 

Skilled Trades Offer Job Security and Stability

People will always need plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs, auto mechanics, carpenters and landscape architects. Because of this, those mastering these unique skills ensure job security because the work they do is difficult to automate. While AI and innovative technology can replace many jobs, hands-on skills like these will always remain in demand. Because these trades are considered essential services, they are necessary for building maintenance and operation, which ensures consistent work availability. 

Lucrative Pay

As of February 2025, the average hourly pay for a trade worker in California is $20.89, while the minimum wage is $16.50 per hour. This is a pretty significant difference, and it highlights the earning potential in skilled trades. With the opportunity to start their careers at a higher hourly rate, trade workers can earn more than those in entry-level jobs, even without a four-year degree. Also, the nature of many trade jobs means the opportunity for many trades to offer overtime, bonuses, and career advancement, making the financial outlook even more appealing.

Final Thoughts 

For those open to exploring different types of continued education, trade schools can be a smart alternative to traditional colleges and universities. The ability to learn these specialized skills within a year, learn skills that will consistently be in demand, and make significantly more than the minimum wage is enticing to many entering the workforce. Staffing agencies are a great resource for skilled workers to connect with employers who are looking for their unique experience and skillset. 

Want to learn more about landing a job that aligns with your unique skilled trade? Let’s get connected.