It’s not new news that the U.S. labor market is tight. The country needs more workers, but not just anyone - the highest demand remains for highly skilled tradesmen. Jobs that will always be needed are in the trades, but there are not enough qualified workers to meet that need.

The mentality that you need to get a college degree if you want to be successful has been ingrained in the minds of young people for years. “Work smarter, not harder” is the mantra of high school advisors and other adults guiding the decisions of young people. Students are hearing the message that attending a vocational school or becoming an apprentice is a bad idea, so the trades are hardly a consideration these days.

If you’ve been applying for jobs in the trades without any luck, you may consider finding a job through a recruitment agency. But you probably have questions like, “Are employment agencies any good?” and “Are employment agencies worth it?”

How is the job market right now? Not great. What does the job market need right now? More workers. Currently, job openings grossly exceed the number of available workers, and the gap continues to widen. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there were 199,000 job openings in June 2022, which jumped to over 11.2 million just a month later—a 5,528% increase!

So, you need to hire a new employee, but you don’t have the internal resources to manage the recruitment process yourself. Or, maybe you’re a skilled worker on a short-term job that wrapped up, and now you’re looking for a new gig. In both circumstances, joining a recruitment agency is a great next step. 

Did you know there’s a name for skilled tradespeople who travel for work? Some refer to them as “road warriors.” As a skilled worker taking on traveling skilled trade jobs, you’re likely always on the move. Road warriors thrive in new environments and work jobs that are typically short-term, lasting weeks or months. They seek the best skilled labor jobs that pay well and offer exciting opportunities.