The Skilled Trades Shortage: Why Brucha Is Investing in Solutions
The construction industry is facing a growing challenge — one that’s already impacting project timelines, budgets, and the future of the built environment: a serious shortage of skilled tradespeople.
Across North America, the demand for qualified labor in the trades is rapidly outpacing supply. The reasons are clear — and the data is hard to ignore:
By 2030, U.S. manufacturing alone will need 2.1 million additional skilled trades workers just to meet demand.
Over 20% of tradespeople are now aged 55 or older, creating an approaching retirement cliff.
For every 5 Baby Boomers retiring from the trades, only 2 younger workers are entering the field.
54% of construction firms report project delays caused by labor shortages, and 80% have delayed or canceled projects due to lack of workforce.
94% of firms say they struggle to fill open craft positions — electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, and more.
The U.S. construction industry will need to attract nearly 440,000 new workers in 2025 alone, and even more in 2026.
At Brucha, we see these trends not just as a market statistic — but as a clear signal: Our industry needs to invest in people if we want to build the future.
A Precision Industry Requires Precision People
Brucha’s business is built on precision — from our engineered panel systems and proprietary joint technology, to our obsessive attention to detail in fabrication and installation.
But as every contractor and builder knows, no matter how good the product, success on the job site comes down to one thing: having a skilled, reliable team to install it.
That’s why Brucha is launching the Brucha Trades Initiative — a focused effort to contribute to workforce readiness in the markets we serve.
Brucha Trades Initiative: Building a Smarter Pipeline
The goal is simple: help close the trades gap by investing in the next generation of tradespeople. Brucha is partnering with local training programs, apprenticeships, and trades schools to:
Support hands-on learning and credentialing
Provide mentorship and real-world insight from seasoned trades professionals
Create pathways for young people to enter high-demand construction careers
Champion the trades as a respected, valuable, future-forward career choice
More Than Products — Investing in People
As a manufacturer, we can’t solve this challenge alone. But we can be part of the solution. By contributing resources, expertise, and partnerships to support trades education, Brucha is investing in the people who make precision building possible — today and for decades to come.
We believe that every company in this industry has a role to play in strengthening the skilled trades workforce. For Brucha, this is just the start.
If you’re an educator, trades program leader, or partner organization interested in collaborating with the Brucha Trades Initiative, we’d love to hear from you.
Let’s build the future — together.