Business Education

Is Finding Skilled Trades Employees Impossible? Think Again!

What’s the biggest problem facing most small businesses in the trades? If you ask an owner-entrepreneur, one answer stands above the rest—finding good employees who want to work, do a good job, and are consistently reliable. But, even with the promise of great pay, these individuals seem harder than ever to find—especially post-shutdown and even five years after the fact. It can be disheartening, frustrating, and hinder a business from growing.

However, there is good news. The “college is for everyone” mentality is slowly wearing off. Young people graduating from high school are again discovering the value (and lucrativeness) of the trades. They realize they’ll spend far less on their education and begin to earn good money in a short period. Although we’re still in a transition, so it’s not always easy to find such individuals.

7 Ways Small Business Owners Can Find Skilled and Reliable Employees in the Trades

As stated, in the current labor market, many small business owners in the trades are facing an uphill battle: finding skilled workers who not only meet the job’s qualifications but also show up consistently and perform well. Whether you’re running a plumbing service, electrical company, construction firm, an HVAC business, or any other trade-based business, attracting dependable employees requires a mix of strategic recruiting, strong employer branding, and fostering a work environment that encourages retention. So, here’s how small business owners can navigate these challenges and build a reliable workforce.

1. Build a Reputation as an Employer of Choice

One of the most effective ways to attract high-quality workers is to establish a strong employer brand. Your company should be known not just for the services it provides, but also for being a great place to work. Competitive pay, clear career advancement opportunities, and a positive work culture can set your business apart.

Consider showcasing testimonials from satisfied employees on your website or social media channels. Highlight the benefits of working for your business, including training programs, job stability, and workplace camaraderie.

2. Tap Into Apprenticeship Programs and Trade Schools

Many trade schools and apprenticeship programs produce eager, well-trained individuals looking to enter the workforce. Building relationships with local vocational programs can be an excellent pipeline for reliable employees.

Offer internships or paid training programs that allow students to gain hands-on experience with your business before transitioning into full-time roles. This gives you a chance to evaluate their work ethic and skill level before committing to hiring them permanently.

3. Use Targeted Recruitment Strategies

When traditional hiring methods don’t yield results, think outside the box. You still have options for finding good recruits, such as the following:

Referrals. Employees and industry contacts often know skilled workers looking for better opportunities. A referral program with incentives can encourage them to recommend dependable candidates.
Social media and digital recruiting. Platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and industry-specific job boards can help connect you with skilled tradespeople actively seeking work. Posting engaging content about your work culture and job opportunities can help spark interest.
Local community networking. Attending industry events, trade association meetings, and even hosting hiring open houses can connect you with qualified prospects.

4. Prioritize Work-Life Balance and Fair Compensation

Compensation matters, but so does workplace satisfaction. Offering fair wages aligned with industry standards is crucial, but providing benefits such as flexible schedules, paid time off, or wellness initiatives can be just as impactful.

Many workers in the trades value job stability and fair treatment over chasing the highest paycheck. If you create an environment where employees feel respected and valued, they are much more likely to stay and perform reliably.

5. Optimize the Hiring Process to Weed Out Unreliable Candidates

A streamlined hiring process with clear expectations can help filter out applicants who may not be dependable. When interviewing candidates:

Ask about previous job reliability and attendance history.
Focus on behavioral-based interview questions that reveal how they handle workplace challenges.
Require a trial period or probationary period to assess performance before committing to full-time employment.

6. Retain Employees Through Strong Leadership and Development

Once you’ve found dependable employees, keeping them engaged and motivated is just as important as hiring them. Investing in leadership development, fostering mentorship programs, and giving employees room to grow can improve retention rates.

Employees who see a future within your business are more likely to stay committed. Offering professional development—such as advanced training certifications or leadership opportunities—shows that you value their long-term potential.

7. Addressing Attendance and Performance Issues Early

If absenteeism or poor performance becomes an issue, addressing it early through structured feedback and accountability systems is essential. Instead of waiting for problems to escalate, establish clear expectations from the start.

Hold regular check-ins with employees, provide constructive criticism when necessary, and create incentive programs that reward consistent performance and reliability.

A Few Final Thoughts

While the challenges of recruiting and retaining reliable workers in the trades are real, small business owners who adopt proactive strategies can find and keep quality employees.

Investing in your workforce isn’t just about hiring—it’s about building a team that stays committed for the long haul. Skilled, dependable workers are out there—you just need the right approach to find them.

Want to Accomplish More?

Do you want your company to grow faster and earn more while spending more time with your family doing everything you started your business to do?

We can make that dream a reality. Give us 30 minutes and we will show you how to get your life back. Skeptical? Good! Put us to the test.

You can call us for your free appointment at 480-636-1720, or, if you prefer, send us an email. You can also visit us at Waters Business Consulting Group to learn more about us and the services we offer.

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John Waters Talks Breaking the Mold on the Vivid Ventures Podcast

September 16, 2026 No Comments

.elementor-widget-text-editor{font-family:var( –e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif;font-weight:var( –e-global-typography-text-font-weight );color:var( –e-global-color-text );}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:var( –e-global-color-primary );}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap, .elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-default .elementor-drop-cap{color:var( –e-global-color-primary );border-color:var( –e-global-color-primary );} John Waters sat down with Matt Nguyen and Trevor Jensen of Vivid Ventures for a wide-ranging conversation about what actually separates growing businesses from stagnant ones, and the episode is live now. Titled “The ‘What If?’ Mindset: How Great Businesses Break the Mold,” the episode brings together John’s 40 years in business and 17 years of entrepreneurial consulting with Matt and Trevor’s own experience working with contractors, service businesses, and product companies. The premise of the conversation is simple to state and hard to practice: most business owners run their companies the way they’ve always run them, and that habit is often the very thing holding them back. John, Matt, and Trevor spend the better part of 44 minutes pulling that idea apart, looking at where “the way you’ve always done it” quietly caps growth, and what it looks like to ask a different question instead. What They Get Into The conversation moves through several threads that will sound familiar to anyone who has hit a plateau they can’t quite explain. John talks about the gap between companies that grow and companies that stall, and why that gap usually has less to do with market conditions than with what’s happening inside the business itself. From there, the discussion turns to financial literacy, not as an abstract virtue but as a practical skill that changes how owners make decisions day to day. There’s a good stretch on team building and the kind of organizational structure that lets a business run without the owner holding every piece together personally. That naturally leads into systems and processes, and the case John makes for building operational visibility so that delegation becomes possible instead of theoretical. He also draws a clear line between reactive management, where the business runs you, and proactive planning, where you set the direction on purpose. One of the more useful parts of the episode is how John applies this questioning approach across very different kinds of businesses, from contractors to service firms to product companies, showing that the “what if” mindset isn’t industry-specific. The conversation closes with a look at leadership and infrastructure as a business scales, plus a segment on how technology and AI fit into modern business optimization, and the value of leading indicators over lagging ones when it comes to steering decisions. Why It’s Worth a Listen This episode is a good fit for anyone who has felt the friction of outgrowing their own systems, whether that’s a founder still doing too much personally, an operator trying to build a team that can actually take work off their plate, or a leader who wants a clearer read on where the business is headed before the numbers force the conversation. John’s style throughout is direct and grounded in what he’s actually seen work, not theory for its own sake. You can listen to the full episode, “The ‘What If?’ Mindset: How Great Businesses Break the Mold,” on the Vivid Ventures podcast: Listen on Spotify. Want to Accomplish More for Your Business? Do you want your company to grow faster and earn more while spending more time with your family doing everything you started your business to do? We can make that dream a reality. Give us 30 minutes, and we will show you how to get your life back. Skeptical? Good! Put us to the test. You can call us for your free appointment at 480-636-1720, or, if you prefer, send us an email. You can also visit us at Waters Business Consulting Group to learn more about us and the services we offer.

Coronavirus Presents an Opportunity to Teach Your Children about Business

June 16, 2020 No Comments

The legend of the Sword of Damocles is a reminder that power always comes with a price — and running a business during a pandemic has made that lesson painfully real. As uncomfortable as this moment is, it’s also a rare chance to teach your kids about the ups and downs of ownership using real, relatable examples. Here are three business lessons worth passing on right now.

How to Turn YOLO into Action

January 10, 2019 No Comments

You Only Live Once — and that’s exactly why you should stop sitting on that business idea. You don’t need a mountain of cash, an exhaustive business plan, or a storefront to get started. Most of what’s holding you back is imaginary. Here are four simple steps to turn YOLO into an actual, functioning business.