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, SMOHIT, and the Heavy Metal Summer Experience, meant to raise awareness of the abundance and evolution of trade careers. Celebrated each year during the first full week of April, this represents an all-hands-on-deck effort to not only clearly communicate the benefits of working in the trades but also to invest 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 continue to grow 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!