The highly collaborative nature of the skilled trades means that for professionals across the industry, opportunities for career advancement and upskilling largely hinge on their ability to connect with other skilled workers. On the jobsite, however, these conversations may be more difficult to facilitate given the fast pace of project work. Access to alternative spaces for collaboration, such as through memberships, can be of great value for professionals looking to build their skillsets and accelerate their career growth. Access to membership platforms promotes knowledge sharing among industry professionals and provides a forum-style resource for workers to ask questions, receive tangible tips and tricks, and discuss industry trends.
Establishing this type of collaborative environment enhances workers’ individual skills and expertise, fostering a culture of continuous education that boosts confidence and pride for professionals. Membership programs offer skilled trades professionals a valuable space to facilitate knowledge sharing and support problem-solving that ultimately benefits the industry as a whole.
Above all, professional memberships provide skilled workers with access to a breadth of knowledge across a variety of relevant topics. In the digital age, we have a plethora of information at our fingertips, but the answers we seek are not always readily accessible or easily digestible. In a membership platform setting, technical information is well organized, and experts are easy to reach. Members can take advantage of this access to vast knowledge at any stage of a project they may be working on, even in the early planning phases. Other members can provide ideas on what building codes and standards are applicable to a given project, for example. Members can also ask industry-specific questions, such as for health care and industrial settings, with the reassurance that other industry peers will provide insight in response.
The level of trust among members is a key part of this knowledge sharing; skilled trades professionals can easily tap into a network of fellow members in forum-style discussions to get quick input on best practices, ways to address roadblocks that arise during in-progress projects, or advice on their career trajectory. Reliability is also stronger in this setting compared to using an open-source AI model and receiving potentially misguided answers, for example.
A generational shift is currently unfolding in the skilled trades; Baby Boomers and members of Gen X are increasingly moving toward retirement, while 55 percent of Gen Z are considering a career in the skilled trades, up 12 percent from 2024—including 72 percent of those with a college degree. In a membership setting, skilled trades professionals who are closer to retirement have a variety of opportunities to work directly with younger members to ensure that critical industry knowledge is passed along. This knowledge sharing can take many forms; for example, when the chair of a membership board or committee has completed their term, they can work with other members to find a strong replacement and ensure continuity of operations. There is a genuine interest from older skilled professionals in supporting this transition among our members to ensure the skilled trades remain a strong, viable industry for years to come.
The wealth of knowledge and educational materials accessible through industry memberships can be of great value to Gen Z tradespeople looking to upskill and further establish themselves in their respective industries. Anyone beginning their career in the skilled trades knows that technical knowledge is crucial to maintaining and advancing in a career. Regardless of previous training or knowledge, access to industry experts who understand and can interpret and explain technical aspects of the job is invaluable to anyone starting their career. In the case of the skilled trades, industry memberships provide an avenue to understand how codes and standards impact every aspect of a professional’s role, regardless of their area of expertise or the industry they work in. Membership access can support some of the basics of industry communication as well, whether it be learning to interpret codes and standards or understanding industry-specific language.
Over time, this breadth of information supports the development of a broad skillset among industry professionals, allowing them to focus on more technical aspects of the trades once their foundational knowledge has been well established.
A strong sense of pride and responsibility are key for motivation and confidence among any working professional. In the skilled trades, professional memberships can provide opportunities to see the impacts of their day-to-day work in action through participation in member meetings or technical committees.
Participation in technical committees, for example, directly supports the development of new editions of codes and standards and offers firsthand insight into where they are most beneficial for industry professionals. As part of committee participation, professionals are exposed to a variety of conversations that offer a broader understanding of the nuances and technicalities of their particular industry. Once the development process is complete, committee members can take pride in knowing that they have a hand in contributing to something that directly impacts their daily lives, as well as the lives of other skilled professionals.
As technology development continues to unfold and more specialized knowledge is required of skilled workers, the value of professional certifications and hands-on training opportunities will only continue to rise. An industry membership can serve as a key avenue for providing such opportunities to skilled trades professionals.
When working towards an industry certification, access to membership forums allows certification candidates the opportunity to hear from other professionals about how they have benefitted from a particular certification and learn about the certification process more broadly.
Professional certifications are well-respected and generally difficult to achieve, making them mutually beneficial for those who participate in membership programs. A high volume of certified members enhances the overall credibility of a given program, given their demonstrated commitment to their respective fields, in addition to strengthening the pool of knowledge that other participants can access through forum-style discussions. Industry membership programs, then, can lead to a cycle of positive reinforcement as more skilled professionals seek out certifications and advanced credentials to continually upskill and highlight their dedication.
The opportunities for ongoing collaboration and knowledge sharing through memberships make them a valuable and worthwhile offering for any skilled trades professional looking to upskill and stay in-the-know with the latest industry happenings. There are a variety of membership programs available to skilled trades professionals across areas of expertise and industries to explore.
As young professionals continue to enter the skilled trades industry and shape its trajectory, building an engaged and informed workforce remains of the utmost importance. By embracing opportunities to join membership programs, skilled professionals can build their skillsets while contributing to greater understanding, confidence, and trust across the industry. A rich culture of knowledge exchange among members allows the skilled trades to continue to thrive and evolve, ultimately leading to a more confident, informed, and resilient workforce ready to meet future challenges head-on.
Susan McArdle is Membership Director for NFPA.
