What if the biggest hiring problem in the trades isn’t hiring at all?

In this episode, Krystal Hobbs sits down with Brendan Arsenault to talk about one of the biggest challenges contractors are facing right now: building the next generation of technicians before the talent gap gets even wider.

Brendan shares why the technician shortage didn’t happen overnight, and how decades of pushing college as the default path created a major pipeline issue in the trades. He breaks down what he is seeing from small, mid-sized, and enterprise contractors across North America, from bringing in apprentices one at a time to launching full cohort-based training programs designed to build talent from the ground up.

The conversation goes deeper than hiring. Brendan explains why “watch and learn” training often creates inconsistent standards, repeat mistakes, and expensive callbacks. Instead, he makes the case for structured learning, hands-on assessments, and making training part of company culture, not just something you check off during onboarding.

One of the biggest takeaways is this: training is not just about skill development. It is about retention, leadership, succession, and building a business that does not fall apart when one key technician walks out the door.

Listen in and learn about:

• Why the skilled labor shortage has been building for decades
• How smaller contractors are bringing apprentices into the trades
• What larger companies are doing with cohort-based training programs
• Why “watch and learn” creates inconsistency and repeat mistakes
• How callbacks can reveal where your training gaps really are
• What younger generations need from training and career progression
• Why apprenticeships are becoming a competitive hiring advantage
• How training creates a stronger succession plan and protects operations

Mentioned in the episode:

• SkillCat 

Connect with Brendan:

• SkillCat 
• SkillCat App

Transcript