Bradley Insights

Since the arrival of COVID-19, the job market has undergone significant changes. One of the sectors that has been providing great job opportunities are skilled trades and labor. An increase in demand in many sectors coupled with a lack of labor has created lots of opportunities for skilled tradespeople looking to grow their careers – especially in the manufacturing industry.

If you have experience in skilled trades or general labor, now is a hot time to consider making a move into a great new job.

The Skilled Trades Labor Shortage: Headache for Employers, Opportunity for Job Seekers

There is a massive skilled trade and general labor shortage in the US. While it is a challenge for employers, it’s good news for job seekers. Employers are much more willing to negotiate on salary and benefits in order to hire the right person for the job.

That shortage is likely to continue with the mass retirement of Baby Boomers and the fact that while some trades are becoming more popular with young people, not enough new students are entering trade schools and apprenticeships to meet demand.

According to a survey by Black and Decker, some of the reasons why the skilled trades gap continues include:

• Misconceptions about pay– Young people are underestimating the starting earning potential for skilled trades. Only 42% expect skilled trade workers to earn at least $50,000. And 19% of young people think the starting pay for a skilled trade worker is less than $20,000. In fact, half of the current skilled trade workers with less than ten years’ experience earned at least $50,000 to start.
• Misconception that skilled trades are manual labor- Many young people have outdated perceptions of the trades, with 23% disagreeing that skilled tradespeople work with cutting-edge technology and 18% disagreeing about the work being high in demand. Those beliefs are in contrast with reality: 89% of workers said they work with cutting-edge technology, and 94% say that their jobs are high in demand.

The fact is, skilled trades jobs, especially in manufacturing, offer higher-than-average entry-level pay and provide long-term earning potential that can lead to strong financial security throughout the course of one’s career.

Rise of New Skilled Trades Job Opportunities as Baby Boomers Gear up for Retirement

Not so very long ago, the Baby Boomer generation made up the highest percentage of workers in the US workforce. Today, they are retiring in droves – ten thousand per day, in fact. An estimated 31 million skilled trade workers retired in 2020, and many of those jobs remain unfilled. Sixty-two percent of companies report that they struggle to fill skilled trade labor positions.

And because they are leaving at the highest level of their careers, this means there is opportunity for skilled tradespeople to move up into supervisory and management roles, overseeing their own teams in fields like manufacturing.

Why Consider a Career in The Trades?

Attitudes and perceptions surrounding skilled trades jobs are changing. Jobs that fall under ‘blue-collar’ work are now more in-demand and well-respected than ever before. In fact, the younger generation is opting for trade school rather than a traditional four-year university, thanks to the crippling debt and lack of opportunity that plagues many college graduates.

There are many other positives that come with a skilled trades career, including:

• Affordability- Trade schools cost less than traditional four-year university degrees.
• Ample opportunity– The job market is thriving with plenty of new jobs, thanks to a lack of labor and the Baby Boomer exit.
• The work – With a skilled trade, the worker has plenty of opportunity to utilize their skill and practice it to perfection.
• The pay – According to US News & World Report, entry-level skilled tradespeople average about $52,000 per year to start. A master tradesperson is able to demand even better pay. The average college graduate made less than $50,000. Salaries vary between state, company size, experience, industry, and level of education. Yet, skilled trade careers consistently make a good living.
• Career growth- With experience, continuing education and skill development, there are opportunities to grow within a skilled trades career. You can begin as an apprentice and grow into mastery status. You can become certified by taking industry- or company-specific training. In addition, crews need foremen, so there are always opportunities to be promoted to management status.
• Stability – Even in times of economic downturns, the trades prove to be a resilient career.
• Freedom – Skilled trades professionals are not chained to a desk or to their mobile device all day long. They work closely with their teams in the field and depending on the industry they work in, they may be in a different work environment for every project they are on.

How to Find A Great Job In the Skilled Trades and Labor

Most trade schools help new graduates find a job. But what if you’ve been working and you want to find something better or make a change? This is where working with an expert recruiter in the skilled trades can make all the difference.

Recruiters can help take the pressure off your job search. When you work with a recruiter, they will match you with jobs that meet your skill set and your goals and they will only present you with opportunities that are worth pursuing. They will also keep your search confidential, so that you can continue focusing on your current job.

The Bradley Group in North Carolina is a top staffing and recruiting company that works with skilled tradespeople in a variety of industries.

People choose to work with The Bradley Group because we offer:

• Unparalleled candidate satisfaction – While some skilled trades staffing firms focus their attention solely clients, we understand that the needs of our clients and candidates often align and are equally important.
• Free services – Our recruiting services are always free to job seekers. Employers pay us to fill their open positions for them, so it costs you nothing. Your recruiter will get to know your skills, interests, and goals. Because they also know the employer and the opportunity well, they can easily determine if you are the right fit.
• Amble opportunities – We are always recruiting for a range of job opportunities for temporary and professional job seekers.
• Simple but effective process – Our process gets every candidate off on the right foot. With six North Carolina locations, candidates can always find an office were the recruiters know the local job market.
• Temporary, Contract, and Full-Time Opportunities- The Bradley Group offers a wide range of temporary staffing services and recruiting options for your skilled trades job search. Whether you are just starting your career or you’re a seasoned vet, whether you’re looking for full-time or more flexible opportunities, our recruiters can find what you are looking for.
• Transparency – The Bradley group prides itself on being ethical in all that we do. We won’t mislead you into thinking that a job is something that’s not. We provide honest feedback before the employer interview so that you present yourself in the best possible light to the employer. And after the interview, we will debrief to discuss the employer’s impression and give you tips to improve your skills and presentation for future opportunities. The Bradley Group takes your career seriously. Whether you are looking to take the next step in your career or want to try something different, our recruiters devote themselves to helping you reach your goals.
• Continuous improvement – We believe good isn’t good enough and we never settle. We are always gathering feedback from our candidates and employees and use that feedback to take action to improve in the future. We are continually improving our processes as well to make them even more accurate, streamlined, and satisfying. If

A Focus On Skilled Trades Safety

It is important to note that the recruiters at The Bradley Group are committed to the safety of every person we place in the field.

Our team physically visits job sites before we send an employee to ensure that the company meets our rigorous safety standards. We also offer ongoing workplace safety consulting to our employer partners. That training includes customized worker safety solutions and training to ensure OSHA compliance.

Our trained and certified safety team is dedicated to helping employers implement and maintain safety programs that will help mitigate the risk of employees getting hurt on the job. Our goal is to keep your workday safe and productive.

Services we offer to employers to keep you safe include:

• OSHA Compliance Assessments
• Safety Program Design
• Ergonomic Evaluations
• Job Safety Analysis (JSA)
• Behavior-Based Safety Programs
• Safety Observation Program
• Industrial Hygiene
• Line Safety
• Behavioral-Based Safety Programs
• Safety Communications
• Machine Guarding
• Wellness Programs

Many of our employees say that our commitment to safety is exemplary. We are always striving to lead the way in the industry and continually improve our processes.

Find Your Next Job With The Best Skilled Trades Recruiters in North Carolina

Finding work is just a little bit easier when you work with The Bradley Group. We are a top North Carolina staffing and recruiting company that puts you first. You can put our expertise to work for you to identify the position that is the perfect fit for you. We offer a wide variety of jobs and working options such as temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct hire jobs. If you need flexibility or want to use your skills in a new opportunity, we are here to assist.

When you’re ready to get started, search our open jobs. If you have additional questions, contact us today. We have offices in Lexington, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Asheboro, High Point, and Charlotte, NC.