To keep our economy running smoothly, it is important to have a strong workforce of skilled trades professionals. According to a study by the National Association of Manufacturers, there will be a 3.5 million skilled trade workers shortage by 2022. This is why businesses need to start recruiting skilled trades professionals now. But where do you start? How do you know which skills are in demand and which professionals are the best fit for your business? Here are ways to recruit skilled trades professionals in the year 2022.
1. Review Your Current Needs
The first step for recruiting trades professionals in 2022 is to review your current needs. For example, let’s say you own a car garage and currently have a mechanic opening. How do you know which kind of mechanic to hire? There are many different types of mechanics, such as transmission, engine, oil, and brake. So, which one will be the best fit for your garage? You can either look at your current needs or talk to other companies in the area to see if they are hiring skilled trades professionals.
Another important aspect of reviewing your needs is looking at labor trends within your industry. Labor trends include:
- Hot Jobs (jobs that are currently trending upwards).
- Skills shortages (jobs where there aren’t enough workers with the required skill set).
- Pay rates (how much an employee gets paid for doing that specific job).
2. Look at Industry Reports
Once you have reviewed your needs, the next step is to check out industry reports that will help you find the right candidates. For example, let’s say you want to hire a skilled trades professional for an open position in your garage. You can check out an industry report conducted by Burning Glass Technologies to see which jobs are currently being hired and what skills employers are looking for. This information can help you create an effective job posting that will attract the best candidates.
3. Post Your Job Listing on Social Media
There’s no better advertising than word-of-mouth. If you have a skilled trades professional working for your company, why not post on social media about it? Let people know what kind of work this person is doing and how they’re making a positive impact at your company. This will inspire others looking for new opportunities to connect with you.
Social media can help you find qualified candidates for any position, including skilled trades jobs in 2022. LinkedIn is a great platform to use if you want to hire someone with specific job skills, so all your applicants have those qualifications. If you’re hiring someone for a construction job, check out the Construction Jobs Board on LinkedIn. This is where you can post your job listing and sort through candidates based on their industry expertise and location.
4. Consult Staffing Agencies
Another option for recruiting skilled trades professionals in 2022 is to consult staffing agencies. Staffing agencies like Pryor Staffing Agency are very popular because they find talented professionals and screen them before presenting them to companies. This service can be helpful because not only will you have access to a large pool of job seekers, but you will also save your company money on recruitment costs.
5. Train Your Current Employees
Another way to recruit skilled trades workers for open positions in your business is by training current employees. Establish an apprenticeship program that allows unskilled or inexperienced workers to become skilled trades workers through on-the-job training. Not only does this help increase your current workforce, but it is also more cost-efficient for you.
6. Advertise Internships
Lastly, one way to attract young job seekers is by advertising internships. Advertising internships are a great option for companies within the manufacturing industry because many skilled trades positions require a minimum of two years of previous work experience. This makes it difficult for recent graduates to qualify for these positions. An internship program can help both your business and talented new professionals by gaining valuable work experience while training them on the job. Not only will this save you money, but it will also save you time in finding skilled workers that can start right away.
Recruiting skilled trades workers in 2022 can be challenging if your company does not have a strategy in place to find qualified candidates. However, finding qualified professionals will become easier with the right tools and information on labor trends, industry reports, recruitment costs, proper job postings, social media accounts, and training options.
