Industry
News, trends, and analysis of the trades and services industry, including regulations and market data.
Industrial hemp building materials see global trends surge in 2026
In March 2025, Hempitecture Inc.
Homeowners Fund Remodels With Personal Savings
In 2024, 84% of homeowners funded their renovation projects using personal savings, even as the median cost for a small kitchen remodel jumped 9% to $35,000, according to Houzz .
What is Fleet Utilization and How to Optimize it for Construction?
State fleet assets failing to meet 75% of minimum utilization thresholds are granted a 12-month grace period before re-evaluation, according to the California Department of General Services (DGS) .
Industry 5.0's Human-Centric Shift: Reshaping Global Manufacturing
More than half of pharmaceutical leaders admit that employee resistance, not technological capability, is the primary barrier to adopting advanced digital solutions, according to Pharmaceutical Techno
Advanced Construction Tech Boosts Efficiency Amid Workforce Shift
Bedrock Robotics, an autonomous construction tech startup, secured $270 million in Series B funding, pushing its total investment beyond $350 million, according to Electrek .
Heat-Resistant Glass Market Soars, Fire-Resistant Glass Set to Double
The global fire-resistant glass market, valued at USD 11.
Automation's Grip Tightens on Specialized Equipment Markets
The United States faces a projected shortage of 600,000 welders over the next decade, a gap so vast it will compel the widespread adoption of physical AI in manufacturing, according to Design News .
Skilled trades safety: Tech deployed, yet workers remain at risk
Despite advanced tech deployment, heat-related deaths in skilled trades rose 117% since 1999, revealing a critical disconnect in worker safety outcomes.
What are Skilled Trades Fall Protection Regulations?
While a construction worker needs fall protection at six feet, a shipyard employee requires it at five feet, and a longshoreman at eight feet, revealing a surprising patchwork of safety rules.
Automation and AI Won't Steal Skilled Trades Jobs. Here's Why.
Since late 2022, demand for robotics technicians has spiked an astonishing 107%, far outpacing growth in many white-collar sectors.
College Grads Thrive Amid AI: Why The 'AI Apocalypse' Is Overblown
While headlines scream about AI replacing millions, a recent survey found 85% of 2023 college graduates secured employment within six months, a rate higher than pre-pandemic levels.
AI threatens skilled trades' entry-level jobs, creating a future talent crisis.
Meta launched a $115 million training program for AI infrastructure jobs, offering free, five-week courses with guaranteed employment for graduates, according to Memeburn .
AI won't replace skilled trades; white-collar jobs are at risk.
Headlines warn of AI replacing factory workers, but a recent report found human lawyers now spend 70% less time reviewing contracts at major firms, thanks to AI.
Lowe's CEO bets $250 million on trades over AI for future workforce
While headlines trumpet AI's imminent takeover of the workforce, Lowe's is committing a quarter-billion dollars over the next decade to recruit and train 250,000 skilled tradespeople, betting on wrenc
An Honest Perry Lieber Review: What Clients Say About the Craftsmanship That Built a 5-Star Reputation
Perry Lieber, a Santa Barbara residential construction consultant, emphasizes a structured approach to managing complex custom home and renovation projects. His consulting focuses on early-stage planning, cross-team coordination, and construction oversight to provide clarity and control for homeowners.
AI in Skilled Trades: Navigating Ethical Frontiers
A master electrician in rural Iowa now uses an AI-powered diagnostic tool that identifies complex wiring faults in minutes, a task that once took hours of specialized human expertise and multiple site
Proactive maintenance: Essential to prevent billions in downtime
Unplanned equipment downtime costs the average manufacturing facility approximately $260,000 per hour, a figure that can quickly cripple operations.
Vocational training: A direct path to close the skills gap
A short certificate course at a trade school can cost as little as $3,900, according to skillcatapp .
AI Redefines Skilled Trades: Jobs Persist, Expertise Erodes
While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 5% growth for electricians and a 7% growth for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters from 2022 to 2032, AI-powered predictive maintenance systems
Vocational Training Investment Key to Skilled Labor Shortage
The U.S. faces a staggering annual deficit of 1.7 million skilled-trade workers, a gap threatening to stall critical infrastructure and economic growth across multiple sectors. Annually, 2.9 million s
AI in Skilled Trades: Ethical Oversight for Job Displacement
In a pilot program, an AI-powered robotic arm recently completed a complex welding sequence on a commercial aircraft fuselage 30% faster and with 15% fewer defects than the most experienced human tech
BlackRock's $100M Investment Signals Urgent Need for Skilled Trades Apprenticeships
By 2027, the U.S. will need an additional 456,000 workers just to meet demand for construction services. This gap is so vast that corporate giants like BlackRock and Lowe's now pour hundreds of millio
AI in trades will create new jobs, but ethical questions loom large.
A single hyperscale data center, essential for AI operations, demands up to 2 million person-hours of skilled labor.
Lowe's CEO: AI won't replace skilled trades, but training is key.
The U.S. will need approximately 350,000 more construction workers by 2026, a shortfall projected to jump to 456,000 by 2027. This demand grows even as AI dominates headlines about job displacement. A
How Evolving Skilled Trades Apprenticeships Boost Workforce Development and Wages
Apprentices earn a competitive wage from day one, a core benefit driving the latest trends in skilled trades apprenticeship programs. Federal investment and a focus on diversity are reshaping workforce development across multiple industries.
Gen Z Favors Trades Over College Amidst Economic Shifts
In spring 2026, enrollment in undergraduate certificate programs, commonly offered by trade schools, surged by 10.
Smart Home Tech's Growing Role: What CEDIA 2026 Means for Service Providers
Denver hosts the CEDIA Expo/CIX from September 1-4, 2026.
What Are Skilled Trades Apprenticeships and Why Do They Matter?
The number of female apprentices in the U.
Skilled Trades and AI: Why Hands-On Expertise Is Still Key
Since late 2022, demand for robotics technicians has surged by 107%.
AI Won't Master Skilled Trades: Your Hands-On Expertise Is Safe
At just 23, diesel engine repair technician Cale Mouser earns well over six figures.