05/16/2026
Why is there a labor shortage in the trades? Many will blame stigma. Others will say education has pushed to college and away from the trades.
I have been in the trades for 30 years, and I can tell you the number one reason is because of the pay. Builders and companies not paying enough, clients thinking tradesmen are uneducated and that we overcharge, and/or rip people off all the time.
I have a BS degree from Elizabethtown College. I have spent more than double an annual salary on tools, and on educating myself, as have many other professional tradesmen.
Think about this when you hire for your next job and go for the cheapest price.
Pay and benefits are the reason many don't enter the trades. It's also the reason many have gotten out of it.
