Survey results from the NFPA 2024 Conference & Expo highlight a range of opinions on AI’s role within the skilled trades industry.
Of the respondents, 25% believe that AI could be a tool for streamlining tasks amidst ongoing labor shortages, while 19% have already experimented with AI solutions to simplify menial work.
On the opposite side, 47% of respondents remain skeptical, having not adopted AI into their daily routines.
Additionally, 8% of respondents do not believe AI will benefit the fire and life safety industry.
Respondents see AI as having potential in several areas, including acting as a personal assistant to workers, streamlining manual tasks, and advancing learning through technologies like virtual reality.
However, concerns about the broader implementation of AI remain present.
Eighty-two percent of survey respondents reported using digital tools daily to enhance training and development programs.
These tools have made training more accessible and streamlined, with 98% stating that digital tools make training easier, 95% recognizing their role in simplifying training processes, and 94% acknowledging time savings.
Despite the benefits, challenges remain.
Collaboration issues were identified as the top challenge for 2024, with 69% of respondents highlighting it, compared to 29% in 2023.
Other key challenges include inspection difficulties (51%) and the increasing complexity of projects (46%).
According to the NFPA survey, 85% of respondents take part in at least one NFPA training program annually, while 18% participate in or offer training twice a year.
The most utilized NFPA products and solutions by skilled trade professionals include NFPA print publications (66%), membership (61%), and the NFPA LiNK service (51%).
Although training programs are widely adopted, barriers such as lack of time, finding the right training, and access to qualified instructors continue to impact participation.
Nineteen percent of respondents cited the skilled labor gap as a limiting factor in career advancement through training and certifications.
The survey also highlighted ongoing challenges within the skilled trades industry.
Lack of time was identified as the most common barrier to advancing training and development programs, with 70% of respondents noting it as a significant issue.
Other barriers include difficulty in determining the appropriate training programs (41%) and insufficient access to qualified instructors (48%).
The skilled labor gap remains a pressing issue, affecting recruitment, retention, and project execution.
More than one-third of respondents indicated that the labor shortage negatively impacted their investment in recruitment efforts, with 14% turning down projects due to a lack of qualified workers.
The NFPA’s 2024 survey revealed mixed responses from skilled trade professionals regarding AI adoption.
While 25% support AI for task streamlining amid labor shortages, 47% remain skeptical, with many not yet incorporating AI into their work.
Additionally, the use of digital tools in training is widespread, with 82% of respondents reporting daily use.
However, challenges like collaboration issues, time constraints, and the skilled labor gap continue to affect training and project execution.
NFPA training programs remain a vital resource for the industry, though barriers such as limited time and instructor shortages persist.
