Section

Trades

News and information for skilled trades like carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC.

Young Gen Z individuals confidently working in skilled trades, showcasing the high pay and rewarding career opportunities available in these fields.

Gen Z eyes skilled trades: 55% consider careers for high pay

Logan Bangert, a Gen Z worker, earns $80,000 to $90,000 a year repairing wind turbine blades, a salary many college graduates struggle to achieve, according to 아시아경제 .

Rick Donovan· Jul 17· 3 min
Adults and high school students participating in hands-on construction trades training programs at a new facility.

New construction trades training programs launch for adults and high schoolers

Lincoln Tech is investing $10 million into a new 36,000-square-foot training center in Maryland, signaling a significant expansion of construction trades training programs for adults.

Rick Donovan· Jul 14· 3 min
Diverse group of people learning and working in building trades, with a backdrop of a growing city skyline.

Natchez Building Trades Program Strengthens Workforce for Growth

Since July 2020, Natchez has seen over 400 new businesses open or expand, creating close to 1400 new jobs.

Rick Donovan· Jul 11· 3 min
Indian immigrant engineer looking stressed in an office versus a happy Indian immigrant tradesperson holding tools with pride in Australia.

Indian immigrants find trades pay well, rivaling engineering

An Indian man in Australia shared that plumbers there earn more respect than engineers do in India.

Rick Donovan· Jul 6· 3 min
Diverse students training in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical trades at NTI, highlighting accelerated programs to combat skilled labor shortage.

NTI Accelerates Skilled Trades Training to Combat Shrinking Labor Workforce

In Texas, up to 78% of contractors struggle to fill specialized trade positions, according to HVACInsider .

Ben Foster· Jul 3· 3 min
Close-up of mold growing on dark, damp wooden rafters in a cold-climate attic, illustrating the hidden dangers of improper exhaust fan installation.

Hidden risks in cold climate in-line exhaust fan installation

Mold grew on the rafters of a cold-climate home, even after the homeowner blocked soffit vents.

Rick Donovan· Jun 29· 3 min
Young women in a construction camp learning to build planter boxes and wire light switches, gaining hands-on experience in skilled trades.

Girls construction camp inspires young women in skilled trades

On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, female high school students at Orange Technical College, West Campus, built planter boxes and wired light switches.

Rick Donovan· Jun 27· 3 min
Skanska construction site for a new 21-story Marriott hotel in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, with cranes and city skyline.

Skanska Lands $325M Cincinnati Marriott Hotel Construction Contract

Skanska recently secured a $325 million contract from Portman Holdings to build a 21-story Marriott hotel in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.

Rick Donovan· Jun 27· 4 min
Aerial view of a large-scale highway extension project with heavy construction equipment operating on a new road through a mountainous region in Utah.

Granite secures contract for Utah highway extension project

Granite Construction has secured nearly a quarter-billion dollars in Utah Department of Transportation contracts in recent months.

Rick Donovan· Jun 27· 4 min
Ed Egerton leading a strategic meeting at Balfour Beatty, symbolizing new leadership in legal and commercial functions.

Balfour Beatty appoints Ed Egerton as new Chief Legal and Commercial Officer

Effective this September, Balfour Beatty will place its entire commercial, legal, procurement, and company secretariat functions under the leadership of a single new officer, Ed Egerton.

Rick Donovan· Jun 27· 3 min
Diverse Texans learning skilled trades like welding, carpentry, and electrical work in a modern training facility, highlighting workforce development initiatives.

Texas Gov. Abbott Boosts Skilled Trades Training for High-Demand Jobs

Governor Greg Abbott has directed four Texas state agencies to immediately overhaul workforce development programs.

Rick Donovan· Jun 26· 3 min
Symbolic representation of the Department of Energy's conflicting clean energy funding announcements, showing a small new investment against massive funding cuts.

DOE's $17M clean energy funding amid $23B cuts

While the Department of Energy (DOE) just announced $17 million in new clean energy funding, it recently jeopardized or terminated nearly $23 billion in existing awards.

Rick Donovan· Jun 26· 3 min
Young professionals collaborating in a futuristic office, utilizing AI interfaces to manage tasks and plan career growth.

Gen Z professionals prioritize steady growth over quick promotions

A striking 74% of younger workers now report using AI in their daily jobs, a sharp increase from just last year, fundamentally shifting how they approach productivity and career development.

Rick Donovan· Jun 25· 3 min
Chicago skyline at dusk with the Greyhound bus terminal in the foreground, symbolizing urban renewal and transit investment.

Chicago City Council Approves $19M Greyhound Station Purchase

Chicago's City Council approved a $19.

Rick Donovan· Jun 23· 3 min
Backyard swimming pool with integrated solar panels on the roof, showcasing a sustainable and relaxing home environment.

Find the Best Solar Pool Heaters for Your Backyard in 2026

The Smart Pool S601 Sun Heater, a single 80-square-foot polypropylene panel, can elevate pool temperatures by a significant 10 degrees Fahrenheit, according to BobVila .

Rick Donovan· Jun 20· 3 min
Bright LED headlights of a car illuminating a foggy highway at night, creating a strong beam effect.

Transport Canada Consults on Whether LED Headlights Are Too Bright

Headlight dazzle contributed to 216 collisions in 2023, a stark number prompting Transport Canada to launch a national consultation on vehicle headlight glare.

Rick Donovan· Jun 20· 3 min
Skilled Indian plumber earning more than a junior software developer, illustrating a significant shift in the country's job market favoring trades.

India emphasizes skilled trades as tech sector shifts

In Bengaluru, a city synonymous with India's tech boom, a certified plumber now earns more than a junior software developer—a stark reversal from a decade ago.

Rick Donovan· Jun 18· 3 min
Professional application of a spray-on bedliner to a pickup truck bed, showcasing advanced truck protection and market growth.

Spray-on bedliners lead truck bed protection market growth

The truck bedliners market is projected to surge from USD 729.

Rick Donovan· Jun 18· 3 min
Skilled tradesperson working on infrastructure in India, symbolizing economic growth and opportunity surpassing traditional white-collar roles.

India's economic future sees skilled trades outpace white-collar jobs

In India, average blue-collar salaries are now growing at 5.

Rick Donovan· Jun 16· 3 min
Construction worker using a Leica Disto D2 laser measure with a visible beam reaching a distant wall on a sunny building site.

Leica Disto D2 Laser Tape Measure Offers 330-Foot Range

A new Bosch laser tape measure now includes a camera to pinpoint the exact laser spot and record measurements, extending its range to 120 meters, according to Digital Camera World .

Rick Donovan· Jun 8· 3 min
The compact Ignition-X electrical device installed in an ATV engine, showcasing its advanced technology and promising enhanced performance for powersports vehicles.

Ignition-X Unveils New Electrical Device for Powersports Vehicles

A tiny electrical device, no larger than a deck of cards, promises to make traditional vehicle starter motors and lead-acid batteries obsolete.

Rick Donovan· Jun 7· 3 min
A family in their living room during a multi-room renovation, demonstrating successful occupied construction by Aldridge Construction.

Aldridge Construction finishes Salinas Family home renovation while occupied

For months in 2026, the Salinas family navigated a multi-room renovation in their own home, a feat of logistical coordination by Aldridge Construction that allowed them to stay put.

Rick Donovan· Jun 6· 3 min
Workers and heavy machinery operating in a large, deep tunnel excavation site beneath the Ohio River, highlighting the scale of the $1 billion infrastructure project.

Steel City Tunnel Partners secures $1 billion Ohio River Tunnel contract

A $1 billion contract has just been awarded to construct nearly five miles of deep tunnels beneath the Ohio River, marking one of the largest infrastructure investments in the region's history.

Rick Donovan· Jun 6· 4 min
Aerial view of the Bechtel construction site at the Sabine Pass LNG facility, showcasing large-scale industrial infrastructure and ongoing expansion work.

Bechtel lands $4.69 billion Sabine Pass LNG expansion contract

Bechtel just secured a $4.69 billion contract to expand a single U.S. liquefied natural gas facility.

Rick Donovan· Jun 5· 3 min
Futuristic construction site with drones and advanced machinery, showcasing a diverse team collaborating on a holographic blueprint, symbolizing major funding and evolving VC investment in ConTech.

Contech startups secure major funding as VC investment evolves

In 2024, venture capitalists closed 325 deals in construction technology, marking a 38% jump from the previous year.

Rick Donovan· Jun 4· 3 min
Diverse apprentices learning carpentry and electrical skills in a bright, modern workshop, symbolizing the future of skilled trades.

Labor Dept. Awards $30M for Skilled Trades Education Apprenticeship Programs

The U.S. Department of Labor is injecting $30 million into skilled trades training programs. BlackRock simultaneously launched a $25 million initiative. This marks a combined $55 million surge in publ

Rick Donovan· Jun 3· 3 min
Sunlight streams through the canopy of a vast, ancient old-growth forest, highlighting towering trees and a mossy forest floor.

Old-growth forests are vital ecosystems with ancient trees

Old forests account for at least 10% of the world's carbon sequestration capabilities, a vital function now at the center of a new federal mandate.

Rick Donovan· Jun 2· 3 min
A cross-section view of a balloon-framed wall in an old house, showing a dangerous gap between floor joists and the wall, with faint smoke indicating fire risk.

What is balloon framing in construction and its fire risks?

In a 1910 two-story home in eastern Massachusetts, a balloon-framed wall silently separated from the floor joists, creating a two-inch gap at the second floor bedrooms without a single visible crack i

Rick Donovan· Jun 1· 3 min
A suburban garden featuring a dense Barberry bush, hinting at the hidden presence of deer ticks and potential health risks.

Avoid Problematic Perennial Plants in Your Garden

In some suburban gardens, a common ornamental plant like Barberry is quietly harboring deer ticks, directly increasing Lyme disease risk for residents.

Rick Donovan· May 31· 3 min
Philadelphia students on a tour of Citizens Bank Park, learning about skilled trades careers from professionals working on stadium infrastructure.

Phillies Host Skilled Trades Program for Philadelphia Students

Just last week, 50 students from Mayfair School's trades curriculum toured Citizens Bank Park, gaining firsthand insight into the vital roles skilled professionals play in maintaining a major league s

Rick Donovan· May 27· 3 min