While many job seekers struggle to find employment, some employers are having difficulty filling their open positions with skilled workers. Forbes reports that over 7 million jobs are currently unfilled in the United States, with most of these vacancies falling within the skilled trades sector. They estimate that 500,000 plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians will be needed by 2028. The fields mentioned above are typically what first come to mind at the mention of “blue-collar work.” However, the Fire and Life Safety industry is another one of significant importance that often flies under the radar. With increased awareness, the industry can gain more recognition both federally and among job seekers nationwide.
Current Focus of Workforce Development Initiatives
The United States has been no stranger to labor shortages over the years. Fortunately, numerous government and non-governmental initiatives have been launched to combat this issue directly. Federal programs, such as those funded by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), are “designed to strengthen and improve our nation’s public workforce system and help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers.” As part of the act, states are required to make several changes to their workforce systems, which include:
- Emphasizing local and regional collaboration among the workforce, education, and industry partners
- Enhancing services provided to employers, including work-based training programs
- Expanding both the funding dedicated to supporting out-of-school youth and the maximum age for eligible youth services
- Strengthening connections with registered apprenticeship programs
- Promoting the development of strong Workforce Development Boards
- Encouraging the use of career pathways to ensure job seekers earn credentials for in-demand jobs
- Ensuring accountability measures are driven by data
Additionally, private sector groups and trade associations have invested in outreach and apprenticeship programs to attract new talent to skilled trades. For example, Stanley Black & Decker is committing $60 million by 2030 in cash and tools to upskilling and reskilling programs. The Home Depot’s Path to Pro program provides geotargeted online resources, entry-level certification opportunities, advanced training, and a dedicated networking platform for the company’s professional customers. Since 2021, they’ve trained 60,000 people and introduced a total of 490,000 to skilled trades. In 2025, the Business Roundtable launched the Skilled Trades Initiative to collaborate with businesses, experts, and nonprofits in developing training and resources to address the talent gap in the skilled trades.
While these are significant steps to address the blue-collar labor shortage overall, the majority of these initiatives are geared toward sectors such as HVAC, electrical, and plumbing. These industries are typically at the top of the list when it comes to funding, training, and recognition. Despite the broadness of these initiatives, the Fire and Life Safety is usually absent from most programs. Unlike the various other fields mentioned above, fire protection is rarely recognized as a separate category eligible for dedicated government or state-level support. Because of this, Fire Safety Companies, as well as their technicians, are often overlooked in these matters, leaving the industry underserved amid the wider labor shortage. Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce released a report on the skilled labor shortage, citing it could continue until 2032.
Why Fire Protection Is Overlooked
Not prioritizing Fire and Life Safety in workforce development programs has implications that many may not realize until it’s too late. Regarding public safety, understaffed fire protection companies may eventually become unable to keep up with the demand for inspections, maintenance, and emergency services. Allowing this to happen will then raise the risk of fire-related incidents in homes, businesses, and public spaces.
This is just the start of what a skilled technician shortage can mean for the Fire and Life Safety industry. It can also lead to longer response times, deferred system upgrades, and reduced compliance with safety codes and regulations. For company owners in this sector, limited access to training grants and workforce pipelines negatively affects their ability to recruit and retain talent, which can stall business growth and innovation. All in all, this establishes a cycle where unmet labor needs harm the sustainability of Fire Service Providers and the safety of the communities they aim to serve.
The role Fire Service Companies play in safeguarding lives and property is no secret, but the industry is still overshadowed by others, regardless. With that in mind, several factors contribute to this. First, fire protection is frequently grouped under broader construction or maintenance categories, making its unique needs less visible to policymakers and workforce boards. For example, companies such as GDI Engineering consider fire protection systems as part of the Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) design rather than their own classification.
Unlike other trades, Fire and Life Safety tends to have fewer state-recognized apprenticeship programs and industry advocacy. This, in turn, leads to a lack of representation in legislative and funding discussions. And since many government and private sector training programs focus on fields that they believe have broader career opportunities or are facing more urgent shortages, this can put the Fire and Life Safety industry at the back of the line. Without recognition, fire protection will continue to be overlooked as a separate category eligible for targeted recruitment, training grants, or strategic support, leaving the industry underserved in critical workforce initiatives.
Training Grants: Opportunities and Challenges for Fire Protection
As previously stated, the WIOA is the foundation for workforce development efforts across the United States, guiding the distribution and management of training grants. In 2025, President Trump’s budget request included $3.6 billion for WIOA state grants, with the Department of Labor requesting a total of $10.3 billion for the Employment and Training Administration (ETA). This includes funding for WIOA programs, such as workforce boards, which then manage regional implementation and ensure alignment with industry needs.
Even with significant funding and established frameworks, the Fire and Life Safety industry remains largely unaffected by these initiatives. For instance, Massachusetts has a state workforce board and sixteen regional Workforce Development Boards that implement WIOA funding. In August 2025, the Healey-Driscoll Administration awarded $24.2 million in grants to 23 school districts, enabling 2,490 individuals to receive training for high-demand trade occupations. Unfortunately, there’s currently no dedicated category for Fire and Life Safety. The same can be said for their Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, which provides training to current employees in the target sector to help them advance into higher-level roles within their organization.
Excluding Fire Service Companies from grant opportunities leaves them further behind other trades and worsens the existing labor shortage problem. As various industries, such as HVAC and electrical, receive greater support, the need for advocacy to ensure future inclusion in workforce development becomes clear.
The idea that Fire and Life Safety is an afterthought for the private sector doesn’t have to be the norm. One way to change courses is for Fire Service Providers to research state-specific frameworks. From there, they can engage with workforce boards, such as the one in Massachusetts, to advocate for grant and support eligibility for fire protection. Making boards aware of the available certification programs and their value can truly show the industry’s importance and emphasize the need for funding. While it may seem like each trade competes for grants and other benefits, there’s nothing wrong with coming together. Showing a united front for legislative discussions will only strengthen representation and visibility for each party involved. Through persistent advocacy and strategic outreach, Fire Service Companies can help shape workforce policies that better serve the industry and protect public safety for all.
Conclusion
In summary, it’s hard to imagine a world without the protections that the Fire and Life Safety industry provides. Yet it remains underrecognized in workforce development initiatives and funding opportunities. Addressing this oversight is crucial to ensuring that professionals receive the necessary support, training, and resources to sustain the industry. Having proper recognition is an excellent first step toward securing a stronger future for the industry and enhancing public safety for communities worldwide.
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