The construction industry is in crisis. For every five skilled tradespeople retiring, only two are entering the field. In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin talks with Clay Crownover, President and CEO of ABC Greater Tennessee and a key leader behind Go Build Tennessee.

Clay shares what’s actually working to attract Gen Z into the trades and what’s still holding the industry back. From soft skills and culture shifts to how tech is changing training, this episode dives deep into the future of skilled labor and what it’ll take to fix the talent pipeline.

Whether you’re a contractor, a parent, or an industry leader, you’ll walk away with practical strategies for creating a stronger, more sustainable workforce.

Takeaways:

• 01:41: What Go Build Tennessee is doing to attract new tradespeople.
• 03:14: Why the industry needs to stop saying “not everyone’s cut out for college.”
• 05:32: The two biggest barriers holding back new entrants: soft skills and short-term thinking.
• 07:29: Why employers need to “finish parenting” young workers.
• 10:27: Meeting Gen Z where they are: hybrid training and flexibility.
• 13:13: What separates award-winning contractors from the rest.
• 15:20: Why “good enough” isn’t good enough in skilled trades.
• 18:50: Magic wand moment: what needs to change in K-12 education.
• 22:32: Why five-year-olds want to be Yankees but not operators and how to change that.
• 24:47: Marketing the trades differently to parents and kids.
• 28:00: ABC’s 5-year plan: more trades, more students, more impact.

Connect With Clay:

ABC Tennessee Website: https://abctn.org/

Go Build Tennessee Website: https://www.gobuildtennessee.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claycrownover/

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