NEW YORK — Cushman & Wakefield today announced the launch of the Skilled Trades Mentor Hub, a new initiative developed in partnership with 50strong that connects transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses directly with professionals working across skilled trades and related disciplines at Cushman & Wakefield and other companies across the country.
Built within the 50strong Mentor platform, the Hub gives participants an opportunity to speak with current employees about career paths, understand how military skills translate to civilian roles and learn more about opportunities with a variety of employers.
“Too often, there is a gap between the skills service members bring to the civilian workforce and an employer’s ability to recognize where those skills fit,” said Matt Disher, Executive Director of Military Programs at Cushman & Wakefield. “The Skilled Trades Mentor Hub is about making those connections earlier and more directly. By giving military-connected talent access to our professionals, we're helping people better understand the opportunities available and how their experience applies to these careers.”
Addressing the Skilled Trades Worker Shortage
The initiative comes as employers nationwide face mounting pressure to fill skilled trades roles. In July 2026, U.S. employers reported approximately 325,000 job openings in construction and roughly 608,000 in manufacturing, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS also projects nearly one million openings in production occupations every year over the coming decade, driven largely by the need to replace workers leaving those occupations.
At the same time, over 160,000 people leave military service every year with experience maintaining aircraft, vehicles, facilities, electrical systems, and heavy equipment — experience Cushman & Wakefield sees as directly transferable to its own workforce needs and that of its clients.
"There is a lot of conversation about rebuilding American industry and addressing the skilled trades workforce gap. But workforce problems aren't solved by talking about talent — they're solved when employers plant a flag and create a real path to jobs," said Kandi Tillman, Managing Co-Founder of 50strong. "Cushman & Wakefield employees have already demonstrated what direct employer engagement can look like — providing military-connected talent with access to people who understand both the industry and the hiring process."
Through the Hub, participants can engage directly with industry mentors from Cushman & Wakefield and other employers to learn about career paths, ask questions about working in the industry and better understand how their military experience may translate to civilian roles.
“Across the country, employers are searching for people with technical skills, hands-on experience and a strong work ethic," said Bruce Mosler, Chairman of Global Brokerage and Chairman of Military & Veterans Programs at Cushman & Wakefield. "We don't have the luxury of overlooking talent that has already demonstrated those qualities. If we're serious about building the workforce that builds, maintains and powers this country, military talent should be part of that strategy from day one.”
The launch builds on Cushman & Wakefield's broader commitment to military talent. The company currently employs more than 1,400 veterans across its U.S. operations and has publicly announced plans to hire hundreds more through military spouse outreach and dedicated veteran hiring efforts.
