Skillit

Skillit is a data-driven recruiting platform designed to address the skilled labor shortage in the construction industry. Founded in 2021 by Fraser Patterson, a former carpenter and general contractor, the company connects contractors with vetted, full-time craft workers across the United States. Patterson's firsthand experience with the difficulties of hiring skilled labor in his own construction businesses motivated him to create a technology-based solution. He realized that the core issue was a lack of digital infrastructure to make skilled workers discoverable.

The platform operates on a subscription-based model for employers, allowing contractors to access a growing network of qualified workers. For the craft workers, the platform is free. Skillit serves top ENR contractors and specialty trade partners, providing them with rich, data-driven profiles of workers across more than 35 trades. The company uses proprietary, trade-specific assessments to vet workers' skills, providing employers with confidence in their hiring decisions. Key features include "Sam," an AI assistant that automates interview scheduling, a map view to see candidate locations and commute times, and AI-driven pay guidance to help contractors make competitive offers.

Skillit has raised a total of $13.6 million in funding over two seed rounds. The first round in January 2023, led by Building Ventures, raised $5.1 million. A subsequent round in July 2023, led by MetaProp and Bow Capital, secured an additional $8.5 million. This funding is being used to expand into new markets, enhance product offerings, and grow the team. The platform has demonstrated significant growth, reporting a 540% increase in customers and a 1000% increase in skilled worker sign-ups year-over-year.

Keywords: construction recruitment, skilled labor, craft workforce, hiring platform, construction technology, workforce management, labor market intelligence, skilled trades, recruiting automation, construction staffing, AI recruiting, candidate sourcing, workforce development, talent acquisition, labor analytics, construction jobs, employee retention, trade-specific assessment, workforce solutions, contech