/ Specialty Contractor

3 Ways to Celebrate National Trades Day

To say thanks on September 18th, 2020, Procore is hosting a giveaway and highlighting continued support for the trades with the right tools and resources for the job. Visit procore.com/nationaltradesday to learn more.

Every component of the built world around us from the floors we walk on to the roofs over our heads is the result of a trade worker’s education, craftsmanship, and hard work. This year, their contributions are even more noticable. Trade workers around the world have acted quickly to help build temporary hospitals that support the growing need for medical facilities, ventilator manufacturing warehouses, and the roads that first responders use to transport patients.

It’s often a thankless job, except for the third Friday of September each year when National Trades Day shines a light on the essential contributions of skilled workers who turn design into reality.

“People in the trades are true artisans. They're the ones putting heart and soul into the building’s mechanical systems, electrical systems, walls, paint. Everything. They very rarely get the credit that they're due, nor will they ever ask for credit for what they do. There's just hard work and humility in each and every one of them.” says Athena Chiera, Vice President of Athena Engineering.

And while trade workers say the recognition is great, the best thank you that construction and technology could give is support in the form of tools, resources, and year-round efforts to bring attention to the challenges that trade workers face every day.

Procore’s Commitment to Supporting the Trades

Over the last 30 years, a societal emphasis on a college education has unintentionally belittled the jobs that build the places where we live, learn, and work. As a result, 63% of young adults say they are uninterested in pursuing a career in the trades and 94% of contractors are having trouble finding qualified, skilled workers.

Procore’s mission is to improve the lives of everyone in construction. That means not only providing the right tools for the job, but helping to close the skills gap by supporting those who are breaking down barriers to entry for new talent pools to enter a career in the trades.

Here are some of the ways we’re doing so:

  • Procore.org’s Women in Construction initiative engages, educates, and empowers companies and individuals who are looking to create more inclusive company cultures that open the doors to women—a pool of talent that has historically been overlooked and discounted in the field.
  • 86% of accredited AEC universities teach with Procore—providing over 28,000 students in 8 trades with free access to our products so that they’re better equipped to step onto and uplevel the jobsites of tomorrow.
  • We’ve partnered with organizations who give a unifying voice to the trades, like:  American Subcontractors Association (ASA), Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA), National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC), and more. These partnerships allow us to provide associations with insights into the latest in construction technology while remaining close to the technology needs of association members. Now, over 30,000 users in 3 different countries have free access to Procore software, certifications, and classroom trainings that are customized to further the advancement of various disciplines—from carpenters to ironworkers to plumbers.
  • The Construction Career Board on Procore Community is the result of a partnership with Arcroro that allows English and Spanish speaking job seekers to search for and apply for jobs at no cost.
  • Procore offers free continuing education courses to those looking to gain the knowledge needed to advance in their careers. Popular certifications include: The 2020 Innovative Builder Series: Best Practices for Effective Specialty Contractors, Building Inclusion, Procore Safety Qualified, and more.
  • Our annual user conference, Groundbreak, will provide a virtual space for the industry to gather, learn, network, and get inspired for what happens next in construction on October 27th and 28th. With dedicated sessions to specialty and trade contractors, attendees are bound to find opportunities to grow and learn.

3 Ways You Can Celebrate the Trade Workers in Your Life

This year, National Trades Day falls on September 18th, 2020. If you’re looking for a few ways to say thanks to the builder in your life, here are some suggestions.  

  1. Let them know about Procore’s National Trades Day Contest. To show our appreciation we’re offering trade workers the chance to win one of five full access passes to Virtual Groundbreak. Plus, one winner will receive an M18 FUEL™ 2-Tool Hammer Drill and Driver w/ ONE-KEY™ Combo Kit from our partners at Milwaukee and a full access Virtual Groundbreak pass. You can enter to win at procore.com/nationaltradesday.
  2. Share their stories on social media with #NationalTradesmenDay. They are leaders of our industry—what comes next for our nation is what their hands put in place today. They don't get the recognition they deserve for building the communities around us with skill, precision, and pride. Share their stories with us so we can make sure they do.
  3. Connect them to the tools and resources they need to continue advancing their careers. Core to Procore’s mission of improving the lives of everyone in construction is supporting men and women in the field with the right tools, training, and education.

To learn more about our commitment to supporting the trades, visit procore.com/nationaltradesday.