Tackling the Trades Skills Gap: Why Ongoing Development is Key to Retention in the Construction Industry

The construction industry is facing a crisis: a significant shortage of skilled tradespeople, with a concerning number of apprentices dropping out before completing their training. Recent data shows that only 54% of trade apprentices who started in 2017 finished their training by 2021. While there are many factors contributing to this high dropout rate, one of the most pressing issues is the lack of support and ongoing professional development in the workplace.

The Disconnect: Why Are Apprentices Leaving?

One major reason apprentices leave the industry is the lack of meaningful support and education once they’re on the job. Many employers provide limited, often biased, training that doesn’t equip apprentices with the up-to-date knowledge they need to succeed. As a result, they leave feeling unsupported, undervalued, and unprepared for the demands of their trade.

A waterproofer I spoke to on the New South Wales, Central Coast recently shared a story that perfectly illustrates this point. After working for several years with limited training, he met Brendan Byrne and completed his training. It wasn’t until that moment that he realised how much he didn’t know. “I didn’t even realise how much I was missing until I met Brendan,” he told me. “I was doing work for my former employer, but it wasn’t in line with the current standards, and I wasn’t sure if I was complying with the industry’s regulations.”

For young tradespeople, it’s a harsh reality. The shift from being a worker to managing a business is already a massive leap, but not receiving proper training and support on the tools makes the challenge even more daunting. Many are forced to “learn on the run,” figuring out everything from cash flow management to contracts, while also trying to keep their on-the-job skills up to scratch.

The Lack of Ongoing Training: A Barrier to Success

Employers, understandably, are under pressure to get the job done. Time is money, and every hour a tradesperson spends away from the job site for training feels like an expense. This often leads to limited training sessions that are more focused on product information rather than practical, hands-on application that directly improves the quality of work.

Take, for example, manufacturer-led training sessions. These are often one-off events that focus heavily on product promotion and may involve a few hours of talking with little actual skill-building. While these sessions can be useful, they fail to address the deeper issues of how to apply products on-site in a way that integrates with the entire system, nor do they provide ongoing support to ensure long-term competency and compliance.

The lack of structured, ongoing development leaves tradespeople in a position where they’re unsure of their abilities and lack the confidence to meet industry standards. And this is exactly why we’re seeing more and more apprentices walk away before they even have the chance to build the skills and knowledge they need to thrive.

Bridging the Gap with Industry Best

At Industry Best , we understand these challenges. We believe that the future of the construction industry depends on investing in tradespeople and supporting them with ongoing professional development. That’s why we’ve developed a solution that provides both education and hands-on learning, integrated directly into the workflow.

With Industry Best , we offer a platform that promotes for:

1. Ongoing Professional Development: Tradespeople can access real-time training and skill-building tools while on the job. This isn’t a one-off event; it’s continual development that reinforces knowledge and builds confidence.
2. Skills Verification: Our platform provides employers with the ability to verify their team’s skills on-site, ensuring that workers are up-to-date with the latest industry standards and compliance requirements.
3. On-the-Job Support: We integrate digital technology that allows for real-time feedback and collaboration. Tradespeople can get the help they need immediately, without waiting for a scheduled training day or manufacturer event.
4. Individualized Development: For apprentices, the platform tracks their progress, helping them develop skills at their own pace while ensuring they’re meeting the standards set by the industry. This level of documentation and monitoring helps with their continual development and keeps them engaged in the industry.

Why Employee Retention Starts with Support

The lack of support and structured training is a significant factor driving apprentices out of the industry. But the solution doesn’t lie in simply offering generic training sessions—it’s about creating an environment of ongoing development, where tradespeople are empowered to learn, grow, and succeed in real time.

By providing a system that integrates training, support, and skills verification into daily work, Industry Best helps ensure that tradespeople not only meet the standards but exceed them. And when tradespeople feel supported and confident in their skills, they’re more likely to stay in the industry, thrive in their careers, and even start their own businesses—leading to a stronger, more sustainable industry for the future.