Defining the
Skilled Trades
A Data-Driven Blueprint for the Future
The skilled trades are essential jobs for every region, business, and institution, but they face an annual talent shortage of 1.3 million workers.
The US needs more skilled trade workers, and a shared goal of growing this critical workforce is a good first step—but it's not enough. To achieve that goal, we first need to know: Which jobs are we talking about?
Forming a trusted, standardized definition of the skilled trades enables the pursuit of common objectives and consistent analysis—regardless of the industry, institution, or US region. This shared definition can then help inform:
Program creation and alignment
Business decisions and hiring practices
Career and workforce development
Site selection and talent attraction
Policy and funding initiatives
The Complete List of US Skilled Trades Occupations
The definitive list is here.
The skilled trades have always been a loosely defined category of work. Everyone has a sense of what they are, but when it comes to studying the data and strategizing the details, gut feelings aren’t good enough.
*Note for Lightcast Customers: This list is easily accessible directly in Analyst, Talent Analyst, and Developer.
What Are Skilled Trade Occupations?
With 20 years of labor market expertise and data analysis, Lightcast defines the skilled trades as 135 hands-on, in-person trade occupations (6-digit SOC) that don’t require a four-year degree but that do require one or more of the following:
Apprenticeship training
Certificate completion
Education up to and including an associate’s degree
Other on-the job training and experience
Challenges Facing the Skilled Trades
20 million US jobs are in the 135 skilled trade occupations, but that number is in danger of falling as one in four of these workers are now aged 55 or older, and as social pressures and misconceptions steer young people away from skilled trade opportunities.
Some skilled trade programs are growing, but training shortfalls in the highest-demand occupations remain a major concern.
“The impending lack of skilled trades workers has been a resounding issue in our economy for years. Now that we have a clear, workable definition for understanding which workers fall into this category, we can understand the supply and demand trends affecting these workers and lay the foundation to bring more workers into these jobs in the future. They’re desperately needed now, but critically needed later.”
— Ron Hetrick, Lightcast Principal Economist
View the full report
Skilled Trades Offer Timely Opportunities
As AI adoption and hiring freezes raise concerns for young jobseekers, the data shows that the skilled trades offer job security from AI, low unemployment, high worker demand, and excellent earnings potential.
Business, education, and public sector leadership all play crucial roles in building a stronger skilled trade workforce.
“Understanding the skilled trades labor market is a high priority for all kinds of growth and investment, which means that leaders and decision makers need high-quality data at their fingertips to guide those decisions, and Lightcast is uniquely positioned to provide it.”
— Matt Walsh, Lightcast Director of Research
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