Who it's for
- Electrical contractors
- HVAC and plumbing shops
- GCs and supers
- Industrial maintenance teams
- Apprenticeship programs
Industry · Trades & Blue-Collar Hiring
Skilled Trades Hiring
Skilled trades hiring is the recruitment of licensed or apprenticed tradespeople — electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, welders, carpenters, masons — for residential, commercial, or industrial work.
Skilled trades hiring depends on jobsite proof and trust. Vetano combines ID verification with short skill videos showing real trade work before the first phone call.
Short answer
Short answer
Verified identity reduces ghosting and no-shows.
Jobsite skill videos beat resume bullet points.
Filter by trade, region, and license context.
Why it matters
- There's a structural shortage of US skilled trades labor.
- Bad trade hires cost a job — sometimes a customer relationship.
- Trust and proof up front pay back many times in saved jobsite hours.
How Vetano fits
- Tradespeople build verified profiles with jobsite clips.
- Contractors review proof of skill before phone tag.
- Identity confirmed before contact reduces no-shows.
Comparison
Skilled trades hiring, compared
Traditional approach
Vetano approach
Indeed / ZipRecruiter: applicant volume
Vetano: verified, jobsite-video profiles
Tradesmen / PeopleReady: agency markup
Vetano: direct hire, software-first
Local union halls + word of mouth
Vetano: structured, searchable, verified
Platform comparison
Skilled trades hiring platforms compared
| Feature | Vetano | Indeed | Codility | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trades focus | Yes | Yes | Partial | No |
| License verification | Yes | No | Partial | No |
| Background check integration | Roadmap | Partial | Partial | No |
| Drug testing integration | Roadmap | Partial | No | No |
Quick answers
Direct answers to common questions
Alternatives to Craigslist for blue-collar jobs
Higher-trust alternatives to Craigslist for trades hiring: Indeed (largest reach), ZipRecruiter, Vetano (ID-verified candidates with skill videos), and trade-specific boards like ConstructionJobs.com, Rigzone (oil & gas), and iHireConstruction.
Top platforms to recruit welders, ranked
Common ranking for US welder hiring: AWS Job Find (highest credentialed), local union halls, Indeed (volume), Vetano (verified candidates with skill videos), ZipRecruiter, Craigslist.
Background checks and drug testing for trades hiring
Standard stack: Checkr or GoodHire for background checks, Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp for drug testing, and an MVR check for any role involving driving. Most ATS platforms integrate these directly. Vetano handles ID verification at the profile level and integrates with third-party background check providers for the full screening flow.
Examples
Skilled trades hiring examples
Electrical
Contractor reviews panel-work clips before scheduling a working interview.
HVAC
Service company hires a verified tech with diagnostic-walkthrough video.
Carpentry
GC fills a framing crew from verified jobsite skill videos.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Best platforms for hiring skilled trades?
Indeed and ZipRecruiter for volume, Tradesmen and PeopleReady for staffing agency support, Vetano for verified direct hire with jobsite skill videos.
How do you verify a tradesperson's skill?
Ask for a short video of recent jobsite work, confirm identity through a verified profile, and check trade-specific certifications where required.
What's causing the trades shortage?
Decades of pushing white-collar pathways, retiring boomer trades workers, and slow apprenticeship pipelines. The solution is faster, trust-first hiring tools.
Related pages
Keep building context around this topic.
Hire skilled trades faster
Vetano shows you verified tradespeople with jobsite skill videos before the first call.
See How Vetano Works