This quarter’s State of the Trades highlights three major themes from 2025:
- Skilled trade wages rose dramatically
- Employers demanded a more educated, tech-savvy workforce
- Immigration enforcement and tariffs reshaped wages, hiring, and regional job growth
1. Skilled Trade Wages Saw Significant Growth
With demand continuing to outpace supply, nearly every major skilled trade saw meaningful wage increases in 2025, especially HVAC.
Average Hourly Pay (and 2025 Increase)
- HVAC Technicians: $45.19/hr. (+ $9.39)
- Carpenters: $39.63/hr. (+ $8.71)
- Construction Laborers: $27.16/hr. (+ $5.88)
- Plumbers: $47.05/hr. (+ $3.69)
- Electricians: $44.21/hr. (+ $1.52)
Wages are projected to keep rising through early 2026 before stabilizing around midterm season.
2. Employers Want More Education and Technical Skills
AI, robotics, GPS-guided machinery and advanced software systems have changed what employers expect from new hires.
The Workforce Is Becoming More Educated
- 87% of job seekers now have at least a high school diploma
- Trade school enrollment has risen 19% annually for 3 years
- 42% of Gen Z are working in or training for a trade
- Over 40% of young tradespeople also hold a bachelor’s degree
Employer Requirements Increased in 2025
- 61% now require a high school diploma (+19%)
- Post-secondary requirements rose 6%
Given how quickly new technologies are spreading across the trades, these requirements will likely rise again in 2026.
3. Immigration Enforcement and Tariffs Reshaped the Market
Immigration Enforcement Impact
Stricter enforcement in 2025 drove wages upward and brought hiring standards back to pre-labor-shortage norms.
- Clean background checks required: +18%
- Active driver’s license required: +17%
- Construction Laborer wages: + $5.88/hr.
- Illinois and Wisconsin entered the Top 10 states for trade job creation for the first time ever
Tariffs and Onshoring
Short-term price increases were offset by long-term manufacturing growth.
- Diesel demand +4%
- Declining interest rates + new tax incentives
- Manufacturing technicians, fabricators and CNC roles will surge in 2026
- Five to seven rust belt states ranked Top 10 in job creation
- Welders and forklift operators became two of the most in-demand roles
Check out our other State of the Trades blogs
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