If there is one saving grace, dare I say it, a silver lining to the shortage of sheet metal workers, it's this: now, more than ever, contractors are taking note of the talent they have on their shop floors.

For too long, it seems careers that required working with your hands at a job site instead of at a desk have been looked down upon by many people  — including some of those who perform such work.

For almost as long as I’ve been covering HVAC and sheet metal, there’s been handwringing about the industry’s aging workforce. 

I was surprised and impressed recently to hear ads promoting a career as an HVAC technician on a major local radio station.

If you’ve visited www.snipsmag.com recently or received our weekly e-newsletters, then you’ve come across our latest poll on millennial outreach in the industry.

A recent survey of 1,300 U.S. construction firms by the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage Construction and Real Estate found that 73 percent of construction firms plan to expand their payrolls in 2017 as contractors expect private and public sector demand to grow in all markets.

Many of us get caught multitasking throughout our workday and have no time to step back and look at the big picture.

Until 2011, roofing contractor KPost Co. was figuratively — and often literally — on top.