Skilled trades shape everyday life in the U.S., from the sites that build our cities to the systems that keep homes and businesses running. This page traces how training pipeline gaps and tight hiring show up in construction—where 8.1 million workers make up 5.2% of nonfarm payroll employment—and in key roles like electricians and plumbers. We also look at injury rates, wages, and projected openings to explain why demand keeps outpacing supply.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. projected 733,000 annual openings for construction trades 2022-2032
- Skilled trades shortage in U.S. construction: 546,000 unfilled jobs in 2023
- Electricians demand: 79,900 openings annually U.S. 2022-2032, 6% growth
- In 2022, 85% of U.S. skilled trades programs reported completion rates below 70%
- U.S. registered apprenticeships awarded 90,000 credentials in FY2022, up 33% from 2019
- Community colleges trained 1.2 million in skilled trades courses in 2023, 15% increase
- In 2023, the U.S. construction industry employed 8.1 million workers, representing 5.2% of total nonfarm payroll employment
- As of May 2023: July 2026, there were 719,800 electricians employed in the U.S., with a projected growth of 6% from 2022 to 2032
- In 2022, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters numbered 481,400 in the U.S., with 42,300 annual openings projected due to replacements
- U.S. construction fatal injuries: 1,056 in 2022, rate 9.6 per 10,000 workers
- U.S. electrician nonfatal injuries: 32.1 per 10,000 in 2022, mainly falls
- Welding hazards caused 5% of construction fatalities in U.S. 2022
- Median annual wage for U.S. electricians was $60,240 in May 2023, 33% higher than all occupations median of $45,760
- Plumbers in California earned a mean hourly wage of $37.45 in 2022, equating to $77,900 annually
- U.S. welders' median wage reached $48,000 in 2023, with top 10% over $73,000 in oil/gas sectors
U.S. construction could face big skill gaps as 733,000 annual trade openings meet shortages.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demand Projections24 stats
01
U.S. projected 733,000 annual openings for construction trades 2022-2032
02
Skilled trades shortage in U.S. construction: 546,000 unfilled jobs in 2023
03
Electricians demand: 79,900 openings annually U.S. 2022-2032, 6% growth
04
Plumbers projected 42,600 annual U.S. openings, 2% growth by 2032
05
Welders shortage: 330,000 needed in U.S. by 2028 per AWS
06
HVAC techs: 37,700 annual openings projected U.S., 6% growth 2022-2032
07
Carpenters: 79,800 annual U.S. openings, 0% growth but high replacements
08
UK needs 225,000 more construction workers by 2028 for housing targets
09
Australia trades demand: 190,000 plumbers/electricians by 2026
10
U.S. solar installers growth 22% 2022-2032, 2,500 annual openings
11
Wind turbine techs: 54% growth U.S., fastest occupation 2022-2032
12
Germany crafts vacancies: 150,000 unfilled in 2023
13
Canada skilled trades: 104,000 openings annually to 2031
14
U.S. construction growth 4.3% annually 2022-2032, adding 195,000 jobs/year
15
Manufacturing machinists: 43,200 annual U.S. openings, 4% decline overall
16
EU construction demand up 2.5% yearly to 2030, needing 1.5 million workers
17
India construction trades need 10 million more by 2027
18
U.S. elevator installers: 2,100 annual openings, 6% growth
19
Boilermakers U.S. decline 1% but 1,500 openings/year due to retirements
20
Australia mining trades demand +30,000 by 2028
21
U.S. sheet metal workers: 15,100 annual openings, 1% growth
22
Roofers U.S.: 14,600 openings/year, 2% growth from weather damage
23
Ironworkers: 5,300 annual U.S. openings, 4% growth infrastructure bill
24
Diesel mechanics: 28,100 openings/year U.S., 3% growth
Interpretation
Demand Projections Interpretation
In the Demand Projections category, U.S. construction trades are expected to generate 733,000 annual openings from 2022 to 2032, with persistent shortages evident in 2023 as 546,000 jobs went unfilled.
02 · Category
Education And Training23 stats
01
In 2022, 85% of U.S. skilled trades programs reported completion rates below 70%
02
U.S. registered apprenticeships awarded 90,000 credentials in FY2022, up 33% from 2019
03
Community colleges trained 1.2 million in skilled trades courses in 2023, 15% increase
04
UK Level 3 apprenticeships in construction reached 45,000 starts in 2022/23
05
Australia TAFE institutes enrolled 450,000 in trades in 2023, with 80% completion goal unmet
06
Only 30% of U.S. high school CTE programs focus on skilled trades vs. 50% health services
07
Germany dual system trained 520,000 apprentices in crafts in 2022, 94% transition to employment
08
U.S. NCCER certified 250,000 workers in 2023 across crafts like welding and carpentry
09
Canada Red Seal program endorsed 55,000 tradespeople in 2022, standardizing credentials
10
2023 survey: 62% of U.S. contractors seek workers with formal training certification
11
EU Erasmus+ funded 100,000 VET mobility places for trades in 2022-2027 period
12
U.S. trade schools saw 12% enrollment drop 2019-2022 due to pandemic
13
India ITIs trained 1.8 million in 2023, but only 70% employable per NSDC
14
75% of U.S. electricians complete 4-5 year apprenticeships averaging 8,000 hours
15
Brazil SENAI centers graduated 2.4 million in trades 2018-2022
16
U.S. women in apprenticeships rose to 13% in 2022 from 9% in 2014
17
Average U.S. trade apprenticeship duration 3.5 years, with 83% classroom-theory requirement
18
South Africa TVET colleges enrolled 700,000 in 2023, 40% in engineering trades
19
2023 U.S. data: 40% of skilled trades workers have associate degrees or higher
20
Mexico CONALEP trained 500,000 in trades annually, focusing on manufacturing
21
U.S. OSHA 10-hour training completed by 4 million construction workers since 2000
22
Pre-apprenticeship programs in U.S. served 50,000 youth in 2022
23
Welding certifications issued by AWS: 450,000 in 2023 globally, 60% U.S.
Interpretation
Education And Training Interpretation
Across education and training pathways, skilled trades participation is growing but outcomes lag, as U.S. programs reported 85% completion rates below 70% in 2022 even while apprenticeships and community colleges expanded to 90,000 credentials in FY2022 and 1.2 million trainees in 2023.
03 · Category
Employment Statistics30 stats
01
In 2023, the U.S. construction industry employed 8.1 million workers, representing 5.2% of total nonfarm payroll employment
02
As of May 2023, there were 719,800 electricians employed in the U.S., with a projected growth of 6% from 2022 to 2032
03
In 2022, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters numbered 481,400 in the U.S., with 42,300 annual openings projected due to replacements
04
The welding workforce in the U.S. stood at 404,200 in 2023, facing a shortage of 400,000 skilled welders by 2024 according to industry estimates
05
HVAC technicians employed 377,600 in the U.S. in 2022, with employment projected to grow 6% by 2032, faster than average
06
Carpenters numbered 835,000 in the U.S. in May 2023, with a median age of 41 years indicating an aging workforce
07
In Canada, skilled trades workers comprised 15% of the total labor force in 2022, totaling about 3 million individuals
08
UK construction sector employed 2.3 million people in 2023, accounting for 6.5% of total employment
09
Australia had 1.4 million tradespeople in 2023, with electricians making up 10% of that group at 140,000 workers
10
In 2022, women represented only 10.9% of the U.S. construction workforce, up from 8.9% in 2016
11
Hispanic or Latino workers comprised 30.1% of U.S. construction employment in 2022, the highest among major industries
12
The U.S. manufacturing sector employed 12.9 million production workers in 2023, with skilled trades like machinists at 286,100
13
In 2023, the median age of U.S. skilled trades workers was 43.5 years, compared to 42.3 for all occupations
14
Germany had 5.2 million craft workers (Handwerk) in 2022, representing 10% of employment
15
In 2022, apprenticeships in U.S. skilled trades reached 616,000 active participants, a 4% increase from 2021
16
U.S. sheet metal workers totaled 143,100 in 2022, with 80% employed in construction
17
In 2023, the EU construction sector employed 13.7 million people, with shortages reported in 70% of member states
18
U.S. heavy equipment operators numbered 403,600 in May 2023, projected to grow 4% by 2032
19
In India, the skilled trades workforce was estimated at 25 million in 2023, with a demand-supply gap of 18 million
20
2022 U.S. data showed 11.5% unemployment rate for construction laborers during peak off-season
21
In 2023, veterans comprised 15% of the U.S. skilled trades workforce, higher than the 7% national average
22
Brazil's construction sector employed 2.7 million in 2022, with masons and bricklayers at 450,000
23
U.S. painters and paperhangers totaled 373,300 in 2022, with self-employment at 28%
24
In 2023, Gen Z (under 25) made up only 9% of U.S. construction workforce vs. 12% overall
25
South Africa's skilled trades employment reached 1.2 million in 2022, with plumbers short by 50,000
26
U.S. roofers employed 140,300 in 2022, growing 2% annually due to repair needs
27
In 2023, unionized skilled trades workers were 13.2% of U.S. construction employment
28
Mexico's manufacturing trades employed 4.5 million in 2022, with welders at 300,000
29
U.S. ironworkers numbered 52,600 in May 2023, with high concentration in New York and California
30
In 2022, rural U.S. areas had 20% higher skilled trades vacancy rates than urban
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
Employment in skilled trades is substantial and growing, with the U.S. construction industry employing 8.1 million workers in 2023 and electricians alone projected to rise by 6% from 2022 to 2032, underscoring sustained demand within employment statistics even as roles like welding face major shortages.
More related reading
04 · Category
Safety Statistics27 stats
01
U.S. construction fatal injuries: 1,056 in 2022, rate 9.6 per 10,000 workers
02
U.S. electrician nonfatal injuries: 32.1 per 10,000 in 2022, mainly falls
03
Welding hazards caused 5% of construction fatalities in U.S. 2022
04
Plumbers injury rate 2.8 per 100 workers in 2022 U.S., strains most common
05
U.S. construction fall fatalities: 385 in 2022, 38% of total sector deaths
06
HVAC techs electrocution deaths: 12 in U.S. 2011-2022 average annually
07
Carpenter struck-by incidents: 21% of construction injuries 2022
08
UK construction fatality rate 1.7 per 100,000 workers in 2022/23
09
Australia trades injury rate 1.8 per million hours worked 2023
10
U.S. OSHA citations for scaffolding: 2,300 in FY2022, $14 million fines
11
Heat-related illnesses in construction: 3,392 cases U.S. 2022
12
Germany craft sector accident rate 2.1 per 1,000 workers 2022
13
U.S. crane collapse incidents: 79 between 2016-2022, 44 fatalities
14
Canada construction lost-time claims: 22 per 100,000 workers 2022
15
65% of U.S. construction fatalities male workers under 55 in 2022
16
EU construction accidents: 1.1 million reported 2022, rate 200 per 100,000
17
U.S. silica exposure violations: 1,200 OSHA citations FY2022 construction
18
India construction site deaths: 1,500 annually average 2018-2022
19
U.S. roofers fatality rate 42.8 per 100,000, highest trade 2022
20
Trenching cave-ins: 23 U.S. fatalities 2022, despite OSHA standards
21
Women construction workers injury rate 7.2 per 100 vs. 3.5 men 2022 U.S.
22
U.S. PPE non-compliance: top OSHA violation, 3,000+ construction citations 2022
23
Electrical contractors shock incidents: 1,400 annually U.S. average
24
Heavy equipment rollover fatalities: 47 in U.S. construction 2022
25
U.S. asbestos abatement workers: 1.2 exposure cases per 10,000 2022
26
Ladder fall injuries: 81,000 emergency visits U.S. construction 2022
27
Mexico construction fatalities: 450 in 2022, rate 12 per 100,000
Interpretation
Safety Statistics Interpretation
Safety Statistics show that construction remains especially dangerous, with 385 fall fatalities in 2022 making up 38% of all sector deaths and an additional 1,056 construction fatal injuries overall at a rate of 9.6 per 10,000 workers.
05 · Category
Wage Statistics29 stats
01
Median annual wage for U.S. electricians was $60,240in May 2023, 33% higher than all occupations median of $45,760
02
Plumbers in California earned a mean hourly wage of $37.45in 2022, equating to $77,900 annually
03
U.S. welders' median wage reached $48,000in 2023, with top 10% over $73,000 in oil/gas sectors
04
HVAC mechanics median pay was $57,300in 2022, with 42% wage growth since 2012 adjusted for inflation
05
Carpenters' average hourly wage was $26.23in May 2023 U.S., highest in Washington at $32.50
06
UK electricians earned £38,000 median in 2023, 20% above national median
07
Australian plumbers' average salary was AUD 95,000 in 2023, with Sydney rates 15% higher
08
U.S. elevator installers median wage $99,000in 2022, highest paying trade occupation
09
Brickmasons in New York earned $68,450mean annual in 2022, 50% above national average
10
Germany craft workers (Handwerk) median gross hourly wage €20.50 in 2022
11
U.S. boilermakers annual median $66,920in 2022, with overtime boosting to $90,000 average
12
Canada millwrights earned CAD 75,000 median in 2023, highest in Alberta at CAD 95,000
13
U.S. sheet metal workers median $53,440in 2022, 17% growth over decade
14
Painters in Hawaii averaged $56,780annually in 2022, due to high living costs
15
EU construction trades median hourly €18.50 in 2022, varying from €12 in Bulgaria to €30 in Denmark
16
U.S. heavy truck drivers (related trade) median $50,200,but equipment operators $52,020 in 2023
17
India skilled welders earned INR 450,000 annually average in 2023, 25% increase YoY
18
U.S. roofers median $49,000in 2022, with commercial roofers earning 20% more
19
Ironworkers in Illinois mean wage $72,300in 2022, top state for pay
20
Machinists median $49,510in 2023 U.S., with CNC specialists at $55,000
21
Glaziers annual median $49,100,highest in DC at $68,000 in 2022
22
U.S. pipefitters in oil/gas earned average $85,000including benefits in 2023
23
Tilers in Australia averaged AUD 85,000 in 2023, 10% above trades average
24
U.S. construction managers median $104,900,skilled trades pathway role
25
Diesel mechanics median $56,220in 2022, growing 3% wage rate
26
U.S. apprentices earned 60% of journeyman wage starting, averaging $25/hour by completion
27
Wind turbine techs median $59,000in 2022, fastest growing trade wage
28
U.S. operating engineers median $52,020hourly equivalent $25/hour in 2023
29
Solar installers median $45,230,but projected 22% wage growth by 2032
Interpretation
Wage Statistics Interpretation
Wage statistics show skilled trades are earning solidly above national benchmarks, with U.S. electricians making a median $60,240 in May 2023 which is 33% higher than the $45,760 median for all occupations.
report visual · Comparison
Skilled trades demand vs. shortage
Demand for construction trades is high, but unfilled jobs signal a persistent skilled trades shortage.
U.S. projected 733,000 annual openings for construction trades 2022-2032733,000
Skilled trades shortage in U.S. construction: 546,000 unfilled jobs in 2023
546,000
Electricians demand: 79,900 openings annually U.S. 2022-2032, 6% growth
6%
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Thomas Lindqvist. (2026, February 13). Skilled Trades Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/skilled-trades-statistics
MLA
Thomas Lindqvist. "Skilled Trades Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/skilled-trades-statistics.
Chicago
Thomas Lindqvist. 2026. "Skilled Trades Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/skilled-trades-statistics.
Sources & references
44 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level