In today’s market, recruiting skilled tradespeople isn’t just competitive—it’s chaotic. Whether you're running a $20M HVAC company or scaling a national plumbing brand, you've likely felt the pressure: too few qualified workers, too many open roles, and way too much time wasted on poor-fit candidates.
The skilled trades labor gap is real—and growing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are
over 650,000 unfilled trades jobs in the U.S., and demand is outpacing supply. If you’re still relying on Indeed or job boards alone, you’re falling behind.
Let’s break down how to recruit for skilled trades smarter, not harder.
Why Skilled Trades Hiring Is So Hard Right Now
INSERT_IMAGE: frustrated business owner reviewing resumes
Before you can fix your hiring process, you need to understand why it’s broken:
- Retiring workforce: Experienced tradespeople are aging out faster than they're being replaced.
- Lack of training programs: Schools are pushing college—not careers in trades.
- Unqualified applicants: Job boards attract volume, not always quality.
- Poor process visibility: It’s hard to see where applicants drop off or why.
What Top Contractors Are Doing Differently
Contractors earning $20M+ aren’t playing the job board game—they’re building
automated funnels that pre-screen candidates, assess skill fit, and shorten time-to-hire by 60% or more.
Here’s what they’re doing right:
- Building
branded hiring pages that attract passive talent
- Using
AI scoring to rank resumes by performance potential
- Replacing phone screens with
one-way video interviews
- Automating reminders, scheduling, and SMS follow-ups
- Making hiring decisions based on
data, not gut feeling
How to Build a Skilled Trades Recruiting Funnel
Here’s a simplified version of a high-converting recruitment funnel:
1. Awareness (Attract Qualified Candidates)
- Use Facebook and Instagram ads targeting local tradespeople
- Create short videos showing what it’s like to work for your company
- Encourage referrals through bonus programs
2. Application & Screening (Save Time)
- Use an AI-enabled platform like
WhoHire
- Include short skills assessments or trade-specific questions
- Automatically remove low-fit applicants
3. Interview Stage (Cut No-Shows and Time Wasters)
- One-way video interviews give you context before scheduling
- Let hiring managers score responses on their own time
- Automate calendar invites for top-scoring applicants
4. Offer & Onboarding (Get to Work Faster)
- Use digital offer letters and pre-onboarding checklists
- Automate follow-up texts and reminders to reduce ghosting
- Track source of hire to improve targeting over time
Frequently Asked Questions About Recruiting for Skilled Trades
What’s the best way to recruit skilled tradespeople in 2025?
Use an AI-powered recruiting platform that pre-screens, ranks, and schedules candidates automatically—saving time and improving retention.
Where can I find qualified HVAC, plumbing, or electrical techs?
Job boards, referral programs, and local training programs help—but platforms like WhoHire use predictive hiring data to deliver stronger candidates faster.
Why do so many candidates ghost or underperform?
Most hiring systems aren’t built for trades. Poor-fit applicants make it through the process. AI and behavioral scoring can help filter out bad fits early.
Is recruiting software worth the cost?
For companies earning $10M–$100M annually, reducing just one bad hire or cutting your time-to-hire by 50% easily pays for the tool.
How does WhoHire compare to other solutions?
Unlike generic ATSs, WhoHire is built
for the home services industry. It automates video interviews, AI scoring, SMS updates, and pipeline analytics—all in one platform.
Conclusion: Hire Smarter, Not Harder
If you're tired of wasting time chasing no-shows or sorting through stacks of resumes, it’s time to modernize your hiring process. Tools like
WhoHire give growing trades companies a serious advantage—especially when hiring needs scale fast and retention matters.
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Ready to see how WhoHire can transform your trades hiring? Schedule a free demo.
