If you’ve tried to hire a plumber, electrician, or HVAC tech lately, you already know: skilled trades are in dangerously short supply. That same pressure is hitting construction firms nationwide, where contractors are juggling record project demand and a shrinking talent pool.
TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI) and its PeopleReady Skilled Trades (PRST) division think they have an answer. By combining workforce analytics, apprenticeship pipelines, and a tech-enabled staffing model, the company is positioning itself as a bridge between eager job seekers and contractors desperate for boots on the ground.
“The gap between demand for tradespeople and availability of qualified workers is widening,” said Taryn Owen, CEO of TrueBlue. “Our scalable model and apprenticeship programs create opportunities for young workers while helping clients fill critical roles.”
Demand Is Soaring—and So Are Wages
Construction occupations are expected to grow faster than average through 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That translates to more than 650,000 openings every year for the next decade.
PRST’s analysis of 700,000+ job postings over the past year shows just how sharp the demand has become:
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Electricians, plumbers, and carpenters top the charts for in-demand roles.
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Median advertised wages hit $56,200—well above the $49,500 U.S. median.
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Hotspots: Texas, Florida, and California are leading hiring, while states like West Virginia and Maine are seeing the fastest growth.
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Workforce aging out: Nearly 40% of tradespeople are over 45; less than 12% are under 24.
Translation: The trades need fresh blood, and soon.
Staffing Partners Become a Strategic Lifeline
For contractors, labor shortages aren’t just a hiring headache—they’re a business risk. Delays, compliance snags, and wage inflation can derail projects. That’s why staffing firms like PeopleReady Skilled Trades are carving out bigger roles in workforce strategy.
The company is touting its ability to:
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Rapidly deploy E-Verified tradespeople.
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Build hiring pipelines for recurring needs.
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Partner with groups like the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) to expand apprenticeships.
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Invest in upskilling programs like WorkUp and recognition initiatives like Respect the Craft™.
“It’s not just about filling jobs,” said Jill Quinn, executive leader of PRST. “It’s about creating resilience for businesses while opening long-term career pathways for workers.”
Why This Matters
The skilled trades gap isn’t going away. With retirements accelerating and fewer young people entering the field, staffing models that blend technology, apprenticeships, and retention strategies could become a permanent fixture of the industry.
For high school graduates weighing college debt against career security, the trades now look like a smarter bet than ever—especially when six-figure salaries are within reach for specialized roles.
Contractors who lean on flexible workforce solutions may find themselves better positioned not just to survive the crunch, but to outpace rivals still stuck scrambling for talent.
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Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Public relations, investor relations, public policy and marketing professionals rely on Business Wire for secure and accurate distribution of market-moving news and multimedia. Founded in 1961, Business Wire is a trusted source for news organizations, journalists, investment professionals and regulatory authorities, delivering news directly into editorial systems and leading online news sources via its multi-patented NX network. Business Wire’s global newsrooms are available to meet the needs of communications professionals and news media worldwide.
