Building the Workforce We Talk About with A Closer Look at the Skilled Trades Workforce Shortage

A Closer Look at the Skilled Trades Workforce Shortage

As a site selection advisor, I spend much of my time helping companies answer a critical question: Where should we invest and grow? And, with the skilled trades workforce shortage, this is an important question to ask.

Workforce availability is almost always at the center of that conversation. We analyze labor data, demographics, training pipelines, and long-term sustainability. We talk about risk, competitiveness, and readiness.

But two weeks ago, I stepped out of the data—and into the work.

I volunteered at Girls Construction Camp in Indianapolis, a hands-on program for middle school girls focused on building skills, confidence, and awareness of careers in the trades. Over two days, I worked alongside these young women as they helped construct greenhouses—measuring, assembling, problem-solving, and encouraging one another every step of the way.

What I Saw on the Jobsite

My role was simple: support, guide, and build alongside them.

What stood out most wasn’t just what they were building—it was how they were building it.

• The teamwork they demonstrated when something didn’t fit quite right
• The way they encouraged each other to try again
• Their willingness to jump into unfamiliar, hands-on tasks
• Their curiosity—not just about what to do, but why it mattered

What surprised me most was not their capability—it was how quickly they embraced the work. And beyond the technical skills, it was clear they were developing something equally important: confidence, problem-solving, and resilience.

These are life skills. And they are workforce skills.

The Skilled Trades Workforce Shortage We Don’t Talk About Enough

From a national economic development perspective, there is a foundational workforce that operates largely out of sight: skilled trades workers.

Electricians. HVAC technicians. Plumbers. Construction professionals.

They are the custodians of the physical infrastructure that every business depends on. They ensure that our buildings function, our systems operate, and our communities grow.

And yet, despite their indispensability, skilled trades have historically been underrepresented in workforce research, investment, and cultural emphasis.

The consequences are real.

By 2030, an estimated 2.1 million skilled trades jobs could go unfilled, with potential economic losses approaching $1 trillion annually.

At the same time, demand continues to accelerate:

• The U.S. commercial real estate market spans 96 billion square feet across 6 million buildings
• 53% of that building stock was delivered before 1990, creating urgent demand for modernization
• Growth in energy, infrastructure, and AI-related development is increasing demand for electricians, HVAC technicians, and other skilled professionals

And in my world—site selection—that reality shows up clearly.

Workforce readiness in the skilled trades is no longer a secondary consideration. It is a deciding factor for competitiveness.

From Data to Responsibility

It’s one thing to analyze a workforce gap. It’s another to ask: What role do we play in closing it?

At Ashmore Consulting, we believe our responsibility extends beyond advising clients. It includes investing in the communities and systems that make growth possible.

That’s why we are proud to be part of Pledge 1%, a global movement encouraging companies to integrate giving back into their culture—through time, profit, product, or equity.

For us, that commitment has taken shape through:

• Donating 1% of profits
• Contributing our time to causes that matter
• Building long-term partnerships with organizations like Girls Inc. of Johnson County

Volunteering at Girls Construction Camp is a natural extension of that commitment.

It complements our work with Girls Inc. of Johnson County, Indiana, and reflects something we believe strongly:

Workforce development is not just a policy issue. It is a participation issue.

Expanding the Talent Pipeline for Skilled Labor—Intentionally

If we are serious about addressing the skilled labor shortage, we cannot afford to leave any talent on the sidelines.

Programs like Girls Construction Camp are doing important work:

• Expanding awareness of career pathways
• Building confidence at an early age
• Providing real, hands-on exposure to the trades
• Challenging outdated perceptions about who belongs in these fields

And just as importantly, they are showing young women that they do belong.

For industries facing persistent talent shortages, this is not just a social imperative—it is an economic one.

A Call to Industry Leaders

As business leaders, we often talk about the workforce we need.

But we also have a role in building it.

That can take many forms:

• Supporting programs that expose students to skilled trades
• Partnering with schools, nonprofits, and apprenticeship programs
• Encouraging employee volunteerism
• Investing time—not just dollars—into workforce development efforts

Most importantly, it requires showing up.

Because when we do, we move from observers of the workforce challenge to participants in the solution.

Building What’s Next

Those greenhouses will stand as a physical reminder of what those girls built.

But what stayed with me is something less visible—and more important.

They built confidence. They built curiosity. They built a sense of possibility.

And if we are willing to invest in moments like these, they are also helping to build the workforce our economy depends on.

The companies that win in today’s environment won’t just identify where talent exists—they’ll align themselves with where it’s being built.

If you’re navigating a site selection decision and want to ensure your incentives package truly reflects workforce realities, I’d welcome the conversation.