Welcome to National Careers in Trades Week!

This week is National Careers in Trades Week, a coordinated effort between SMACNA, SMART, ITI, NECA, MCAA, NEMI, and SMOHIT meant to raise awareness for the abundance and evolution of trade careers. Celebrated the first full week of April each year, this represents an all-hands on deck effort to promote not only clearly communicate the benefits of working in the trades, but to make an investment in building the workforce of tomorrow.

While U.S. workers are experiencing a stagnant job market with fewer job postings and positions that are harder to secure, well-compensated skilled trade job openings keep growing due to infrastructure and other projects vital to the economy.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), professions in the skilled trades will experience faster-than-average job growth between 2024 and 2034, with the Occupational Outlook predicting over 600,000 construction job openings each year and a current median annual wage of $58,000 (up from $55,000 in 2025), remaining higher than the median for all occupations. They also do not result in debt that can accompany a college path. And according to Construction Labor Research Council, nationwide, workers are averaging pay hikes above 4%, as employers look to attract and retain workers in a tight labor market.

Click here to learn more about National Careers in Trades Week and stay tuned to next week’s Member Update for a recap!