The Future of the Trades Depends on Mentorship and Industry Veterans Passing Down the Craft
The U.S. skilled trades face a critical workforce shortage as experienced workers retire faster than newcomers enter the field. Mentorship from industry veterans is essential to passing down craft knowledge and rebuilding the labor pipeline across construction and related industries.
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Key takeaways
Skilled labor shortage is a significant issue in the U.S.
Trade jobs are going unfilled as veteran workers retire.
Mentorship is crucial for passing skills to the next generation.
Across the United States, industries are grappling with a skilled labor shortage. According to industry research, millions of trade jobs are expected to go unfilled in the coming years as experienced workers retire faster than new ones enter the field. At the same time, trade school enrollment has steadily increased. The conversation around skilled trades—once overlooked—is returning to center stage as industries work to rebuild the workforce that literally keeps the world running.
But awareness alone isn’t enough. If the next generation doesn’t see the trades up close, who will carry the craft forward?
That’s the central question explored in this episode of Straight Outta Crumpton, where host Greg Crumpton sits down with Ken Landin, Chief Operating Officer of KL Drywall. Their conversation dives into the value of mentorship, the evolving perception of trade careers, and why experienced professionals must step up to guide the next generation of craftsmen.
Together, they discuss Landin’s decades-long career in drywall finishing, his journey from construction sites in Queens to running his own business, and how he’s now using education and social media to inspire young people to consider the trades.
What you'll learn…
Why generations were pushed toward college—and how skilled trades were left behind.
Why mentorship—from parents, instructors, and experienced tradespeople—is critical to rebuilding the workforce.
How digital platforms like YouTube can help introduce young people to hands-on trades and practical skills.
Ken Landin is a longtime trade professional and business leader who has served as Chief Operating Officer of KL Drywall Inc. since 1989, leading a sheetrock and taping company with decades of hands-on industry experience. He also founded and operated Crossroads Brewing Company locations in Athens and Catskill, building production and hospitality teams through major business cycles and transitions. Today, he mentors professionals and shares trade knowledge through his online teaching platform Drywall with Kenny, where he provides practical instruction and insights on craftsmanship, leadership, and sustainable success.
Article written by MarketScale.
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About the author
Straight Outta Crumpton Greg's personal & professional goals are to serve the people that he am working with and/or for. He carries this mantra in his professional life and his home life. Having 40+ years as a full-service mechanical and mission critical environments contractor with a heavy emphasis on service, maintenance and repair. Greg specialize in mission critical cooling (Heat Rejection) and electrical infrastructures, as well as the comfort cooling surrounding them. As a continual entrepreneur, several markets strike him as interesting. As varied as you could imagine, they range from Coffee with my bud's at www.CommonPlaceCoffee.com, all the way to serving as an adviser for several start-ups in the emerging technology world via www.aGlobalVenture.com & www.AtomPower.com and others. Giving back to his community is of equal importance to him, www.apparo.org and Animal Welfare are just a couple ways of doing just that.
