Small businesses, particularly those in the construction trades, are facing a growing crisis due to the lack of skilled labor entering into the workforce. Nearly every sector of the US economy will see a shortfall in skilled workers, and our industry is not immune.
According to governmental studies, by 2020 an estimated 10 million jobs in manufacturing and related industries will go unfilled because there are not enough qualified individuals available to fill those positions. That’s only four years from now! While it does not break out numbers specifically for the kitchen and bath industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction (of which we are a part) will be the second fastest producer of jobs with projections of 790,400 new jobs added by 2024.
NKBA, along with our sister organizations like the National Association of Home Builders, the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association and the other Design & Construction Week supporting organizations, are working together to address this problem by reaching out to local governmental agencies and school districts to spread the word about careers in the design and construction industry, and how this is a practical (and well compensated) career alternative to getting a four-year degree and taking on a large student loan debt. Working with school guidance counselors and teachers, NKBA is educating students who might not be aware of the opportunities available to them to learn a skill and enter the workforce—and they will be very much in demand over the next decade as more and more workers in the trades retire.
Veteran organizations are also working with the trades in an effort to provide technical training to returning veterans upon transition out of the military. The U. S. Department of Labor offers apprenticeship programs in the construction industry for veterans, and NKBA is exploring ways for our members to participate in the government-sponsored Registered Apprenticeship Program to help provide skill training and quality career opportunities to the men and women who have served in the military. Congress has even mandated that career counseling and an explanation of services and benefits that are available to military personnel take place at least 90 days prior to separation from service. Many service men and woman have received training in the military which, with just a little additional assistance, can easily be transitioned into a well-paying civilian career.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association is placing a major emphasis on reducing the skilled labor shortage in our industry and helping our members who are struggling to find trained workers for their businesses. We hope you’ll help when NKBA reaches out and asks for your involvement in training the new workforce for the 21st Century. Together we can help increase the workforce and grow the industry.
