Business · Economy · 2 hrs ago
US companies expand training as skilled-trades worker shortages grow
US companies are struggling to find enough skilled-trades workers, such as electricians, plumbers and welders.
Mike Rowe, who leads a foundation that supports trades training, says employers are increasingly worried about recruiting.
The demand spans industries including construction, automaking, defense and companies building data centers and power plants.
Employers are responding by creating training programs and competing with one another for workers.
Rowe says that for 12 years, five tradespeople have left the workforce for every two who replace them.
That gap matters because many industries need these workers, and companies are trying to grow their workforces.
Companies are expected to keep expanding training as they seek to attract more people to the trades.
U.S. companies are expanding training programs as demand for skilled-trades workers grows and employers compete to fill vacancies.
Mike Rowe, CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, said company leaders are worried about barriers to recruiting workers.
He said employers in sectors including technology, defense, construction and manufacturing are seeking skilled-trades workers.
Rowe said that for 12 years, five tradesmen have left the workforce for every two who replace them.
- Who
- U.S. companies are expanding training programs; Mike Rowe discussed the worker shortage.
- What
- Companies are training and recruiting more skilled-trades workers amid a shortage.
- When
- The article was published on October 12, 2026. Rowe said the workforce replacement pattern had persisted for 12 years.
- Where
- The United States; Rowe spoke after visiting DECKED's facility in Defiance, Ohio.
- Why
- Companies need skilled workers and are competing to recruit them.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I can tell you that not a week goes by that I don't hear from the CEO of some consequential company or some industry leader who is straight up freaking out over the barriers to recruiting
Everybody is hiring, and nobody is quite sure how to come at it because they're all competing with each other for the same worker.
every year, when five tradesmen leave the workforce, two replace them.
Rowe said five tradesmen have left the workforce for every two who replace them during this period.
Fox Business published its report on companies expanding training amid skilled-trades worker shortages.
- Worker replacement ratio
- Five tradesmen leave the workforce for every two who replace them
- Duration of replacement pattern
- 12 years
- DECKED facility
- Defiance, Ohio
- Training break-even time
- Trade trainees can break even in less than a year, according to DECKED's analysis
Sources
Related news
Pacific Defense launches system combining command, communications and electronic warfare
Apple reportedly cuts iPhone 18 Pro component orders by up to 20%
SpaceX spectrum deal deepens Starlink’s push into U.S. mobile service
Inflation and retail-sales data highlight the week
Starbucks has explored a possible takeover of Chipotle
Citi strategist sees small-cap options as a play on US inflation data
JP Morgan rejects reports of weak iPhone 18 Pro demand and raises Apple target
Netflix reportedly plans to cut 5% of its workforce
Meta bans ByteDance ads across its platforms in seven countries
Mike Tomlin shares a 12-year Minecraft city project
Undecimal Bio launches with $18 million to expand siRNA beyond liver disease
