Interplay Learning

2025 State of Skilled Trades Training Data Report

The 2025 State of Skilled Trades Training Data Report highlights a critical labor shortage in skilled trades driven by retirements and infrastructure demands, emphasizing the need for companies to adopt immersive, digital training methods—such as those provided by Interplay Learning—to accelerate technician onboarding by over four months, leverage mobile learning (used by 27.6% of trainees), and utilize skills assessments that 79% of learners and 70% of leaders find essential for identifying gaps and improving technical proficiency, particularly in troubleshooting.

Introduction

The skilled trades are facing a pivotal moment, with an unprecedented labor shortage driven by an aging workforce and outdated training models. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of maintenance and repair workers is projected to grow by 4% from 2024 to 2034, with an estimated 159,800 job openings each year, largely due to retirements. Nationwide infrastructure investments are expected to further increase demand for skilled labor, adding hundreds of thousands of job openings to an already understaffed industry.

Organizations must accelerate how they attract, assess, and develop the next generation of talent. Efficient onboarding and upskilling are now business imperatives. Gen Z and millennial employees, who thrive in digital environments, adapt quickly to immersive training that accelerates skill acquisition and field readiness. Companies must rethink training design and delivery to attract and retain this new generation of workers.

Interplay Learning was founded to address these challenges by delivering advanced, immersive training experiences to the skilled trades and industrial crafts. Their platform equips both new entrants and seasoned workers with realistic, on-demand learning to accelerate workforce readiness, increase retention, and build long-term talent pipelines.

Executive Summary

  1. 1.Hands-on training hastens growth: Nearly 7 in 10 companies report ramping up technicians faster with immersive training, saving 4.3 months on average compared to traditional methods.
  2. 2.One-third of workers learn away from a desktop: In 2024, 27.6% of all training was completed on mobile devices.
  3. 3.Assessments expose gaps and guide action: 79% of learners said skills assessment helped them identify skills gaps. 70% of leaders agree assessments help them better understand technicians’ skills and assign appropriate training.
  4. 4.Focus on troubleshooting and technical proficiency: 36% of respondents identified troubleshooting as the biggest skill gap, while 28% cited technical proficiency.
  5. 5.Time constraints: The biggest training challenge is lack of time to train on the job. Immersive training across devices makes it easier to find time, with an 83% year-over-year increase in time spent in training during Q1 2025.

The Great Shift in Skilled Trades Training

Traditionally, workers relied on in-person instruction and on-the-job shadowing, which, while valuable, are limited by time, mentor availability, and job site variability. This often results in slow and inconsistent proficiency gains.

Many organizations are now adding immersive, simulation-based training as a flexible, scalable complement to on-the-job learning. This approach provides a safe, repeatable environment for practicing technical tasks, building confidence, and experiencing a wide range of real-world scenarios. Between 2024 and 2025, the number of learners using 3D, hands-on simulations increased by 73%.

Interplay courses are available across a broad range of devices. In 2024, over 30% of training was completed away from a computer, highlighting the importance of flexible, on-the-go learning. As the workforce ages and is succeeded by younger generations, mobile and tablet training usage is expected to grow further.

What the Industry is Learning: The Most In-Demand Skills

Companies are using digital training to support a broad range of learning needs, from targeted technical skills to certifications for specific roles (e.g., EPA 608 Certification, OSHA 10).

Top 10 Learning Path Completions:

  1. 1.Core: HVAC Fundamentals 1
  2. 2.Core: HVAC Fundamentals 2
  3. 3.Core: Electrical and Controls for HVAC
  4. 4.EPA 608 Certification Prep
  5. 5.Core: Electrical and Controls
  6. 6.Core: Multi-family Facilities Maintenance Safety
  7. 7.Driving Safety
  8. 8.Core: Commercial HVAC Fundamentals 1
  9. 9.Jump Start: HVAC Fundamentals 1
  10. 10.Jump Start: Circuit Labs

Top 20 Course Completions:

  1. 1.Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  2. 2.Back Safety and Injury Prevention
  3. 3.What is HVAC?
  4. 4.Fundamental Electrical Concepts
  5. 5.Electrical Safety
  6. 6.HVAC Safety Basics
  7. 7.HVAC Systems
  8. 8.Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls
  9. 9.HVAC System Parts
  10. 10.HVAC Motors
  11. 11.Lockout/Tagout
  12. 12.Basic HVAC Tools
  13. 13.Bloodborne Pathogens Awareness
  14. 14.Electrical Tools
  15. 15.How to Use a Multimeter
  16. 16.Trades Math
  17. 17.Introduction to Refrigeration Systems
  18. 18.Thermostats and Heating Controls
  19. 19.Contactors and Motor Starters
  20. 20.Wire Types and Sizes

Employers can customize training to individual roles and use skills assessments to identify strengths and gaps, making training more efficient and effective.

Success Story: Hilltop Property Services

  • Challenges: No formal training program, inconsistent skill development, frequent reliance on vendors, difficulty tracking progress.
  • Results:
    • Achieved a 25% reduction in external vendor costs
    • Decreased reliance on outsourced services by 30%
    • Increased proactive maintenance work orders by 150%
    • Promoted 50% of engineers to higher-level roles within 12 months

Beyond Checklists: Training Safer Workforces

Safety is a top priority in the skilled trades. Targeted training is crucial to ensure employees can complete assignments without injury. Safety incidents can lead to lost time, fines, penalties, and, most importantly, impact worker well-being.

Top 10 Safety Course Completions:

  1. 1.Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  2. 2.Back Safety and Injury Prevention
  3. 3.Electrical Safety
  4. 4.HVAC Safety Basics
  5. 5.Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls
  6. 6.Bloodborne Pathogens Awareness
  7. 7.Plumbing Safety
  8. 8.Ladder and Fall Safety
  9. 9.Hand and Power Tool Safety
  10. 10.Ladder Safety

In 2024, 363 EPA certifications and 494 OSHA certifications were completed. Immersive, role-specific training not only prevents incidents but also builds a culture of accountability and safety.

Measurable Results: From Ramp Time to Retention

Modern training methods, including mobile apps and simulation-based experiences, are delivering faster ramp times, improved retention, and higher technical competence.

  • Nearly 7 in 10 companies reported ramping up technicians faster with immersive learning, saving 4.3 months on average.
  • 87% of skilled tradespeople find the training useful to their work.
  • 79% of learners said skills assessments helped them identify skills gaps.
  • 66% found using Interplay to learn new skills easy.
  • 68% reported increased confidence in their skills and abilities.
  • 52% of workers who used immersive learning said they are more likely to stay at their current job.
  • 15% of workers reported an increase in income as a result of the training.

Success Story: Mid-Florida Heating & Air

  • Challenges: Difficulty hiring and retaining skilled talent, need to train inexperienced hires, productivity loss for seasoned technicians, low revenue from new hires.
  • Results:
    • Earned 22% more revenue with a technician who started training with Interplay immediately
    • Reduced annual hiring and training expenses by 63%
    • Accelerated time from green to profitable techs within 90 days, increasing average billing for entry-level tech service tickets by 270%
    • Reduced stress on seasoned techs by better preparing new hires

The Path Forward

The skilled trades are at a crossroads. Workforce challenges are well-defined, but a clear path exists to build a reliable, sustainable, high-performing future. The era of slow, rigid, and costly training is ending. A new generation of workers is reshaping the industry and setting a higher standard for skill development.

Advanced training platforms like Interplay Learning empower businesses to close critical skills gaps and gain a competitive advantage. The ability to bring technicians from novice to job-ready in weeks fundamentally transforms recruitment, onboarding, and training economics. Companies that embrace these solutions see improvements in operational efficiency, reduced errors and callbacks, increased revenue, and more reliable teams.

Methodology and Demographics

This report includes insights drawn from anonymized, aggregated data from hundreds of companies and hundreds of thousands of learners on Interplay Learning’s platform. The data compares year-over-year data sets from 2023, 2024, and the first quarter of 2025. The report also includes results from a survey conducted by 60 Decibels, an independent social impact measurement company, which surveyed 94 companies in the skilled trades sector using Interplay Learning’s immersive training.

About Interplay Learning

Interplay Learning is a leader in immersive learning for the skilled trades and industrial crafts, now including Industrial Training International (ITI). Leveraging instructor-led training, online simulations, AI, and VR, Interplay helps organizations and educational institutions upskill faster, reduce risk, and increase operational readiness. With nearly 600,000 people trained, Interplay is shaping the future of workforce development.