Skilled trades roles now take longer to hire than desk-based workers
Craig Johnson
June 15, 2026
Hiring a skilled trades worker such as an HVAC technician now takes longer than a software developer, according to a study by Randstad USA. It currently takes an average of 56 days to hire a skilled trades worker compared to 54 days, on average, for a desk-based worker.
Demand for skilled tradespeople surged between 2022 and 2026 amid AI’s demands for physical infrastructure from data centers to energy systems.
“While much of the conversation surrounding AI focuses on job displacement, we’re overlooking the demand it’s creating for the skilled trade workforce,” Greg Dyer, chief commercial officer of Randstad North America, said in a press release. “AI can’t build data centers, upgrade power grids or maintain its own infrastructure.”
Randstad USA’s study found increased demand in several skilled trades areas between 2022 and 2026:
