Finding Quality Talent As a Skilled Trades Professional in NYC is Difficult. Gild is here to help.

Why Finding Quality Talent as a Skilled Trades Professional in NYC is Difficult

New York City, a bustling metropolis of endless opportunities, is in constant demand for skilled trades professionals. From electricians to HVAC installer and technicians, plumbers, welders, carpenters, and more, these tradespeople are the backbone of the city’s infrastructure. Yet, despite this high demand, finding quality talent in NYC’s skilled trades is a persistent challenge for employers.

Below, we explore why finding and securing skilled talent in the trades has become so difficult in the Big Apple.

1. A Shrinking Workforce

Over the past decade, there has been a steady decline in the number of young people entering the skilled trades. Many high schools have phased out vocational training programs, steering students toward college instead. As a result, fewer young workers are entering trades like HVAC, electrical work, and welding, leading to a shortage of new talent. In contrast, an increasing number of experienced professionals are retiring, creating a talent gap.

2. Competition with Other Industries

NYC’s diverse economy offers numerous career paths that can appear more attractive than the skilled trades. Tech startups, finance, and creative industries lure potential workers with the promise of higher salaries, flexible work environments, and less physically demanding tasks. For skilled trades, the competition to attract talent is fierce, with many younger workers opting for office-based roles over hands-on, blue-collar work.

3. Cost of Living and Compensation

The high cost of living in NYC makes it difficult for skilled trades professionals to live comfortably on entry-level wages. This means that even when companies find potential talent, the candidates often expect higher salaries, benefits, and more incentives than companies can afford. For small businesses or contracting firms, competing with larger companies that can offer higher compensation packages is a significant barrier.

4. Lack of Apprenticeship Opportunities

In a city as fast-paced as NYC, finding time and resources to train new workers can be challenging. Many employers are in such high demand that they struggle to dedicate the necessary resources to long-term apprenticeship programs. Without robust apprenticeship systems, the pipeline of new talent remains thin, and aspiring workers have fewer opportunities to gain hands-on experience.

5. High Job Turnover

NYC's competitive job market often leads to higher turnover rates in skilled trades. Workers may switch employers frequently in search of better pay, more consistent work, or improved working conditions. This turnover can make it difficult for employers to retain quality talent long-term, adding another layer of complexity to staffing skilled positions.

Gild is here to help Employers Solve the Talent Crisis

As NYC continues to grow, the demand for skilled trades professionals will only increase. Tackling these challenges now is critical to ensuring a steady supply of quality talent to keep the city running smoothly for years to come.

Gild focuses on three things:

1. Building local networks of top trade organizations, to ensure we deliver high the highest quality early career talent that we can.

2. Filtering job seekers. Unlike most of the major job boards we know you are too busy to sort through a hundred of resumes. We are here to filter the best candidates based on your needs, when you need them. At Gild, we vet candidates thoroughly before presenting them to you. Say goodbye to wasting time chasing unresponsive candidates and sifting through countless resumes.

3. We build deep candidate pipelines so you have people available when you need them.

If you are interested in seeing if Gild may be able to help with your hiring needs, schedule a call here!