Propel People Launches Free Hiring Platform to Help SMB Contractors Fill Skilled Trade Roles Faster and Better

New solution empowers small and mid-sized trade contractors to compete more effectively with larger firms—offering instant job posting, AI-matched candidates, and text-to-apply tools at no cost

WESTFIELD CENTER, Ohio, Sept. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Propel People, an AI-powered recruiting platform purpose-built for the construction industry, today announced the launch of its free product for recruiters and hiring managers. Designed specifically for small and mid-sized trade contractors, this new freemium offering removes the cost barrier to modern recruiting, giving contractors a powerful tool to hire faster, make better decisions, and compete head-to-head with larger companies.

The free version of Propel People equips contractors with essential tools to streamline hiring, including job creation and posting to major job boards, AI-powered resume scoring, and SMS-based candidate communication. By offering these capabilities at no cost, Propel People levels the playing field for smaller firms competing with larger companies for scarce skilled labor.

"The skilled labor crisis is one of the most pressing challenges in our industry—especially for small trade contractors who often lack the advantages of larger firms," said Dexter Bachelder, CEO of Propel People. "We're excited to introduce our new free solution, which gives SMB contractors the ability to hire faster and smarter—empowering them to fill critical roles quickly and compete more effectively with bigger players who've long had access to better recruiting tools."

Addressing the Skilled Labor Gap

With more than 500,000 construction jobs currently unfilled in the U.S., most recruiting platforms are still built for office roles and enterprise budgets. Propel People takes a different approach, delivering a mobile-first, trades-focused hiring experience that reflects the fast-paced, on-the-job realities of the construction industry.

With the new free tier, contractors can:

• Create and distribute job postings in minutes
• Automatically post to leading job boards
• Instantly identify top candidates using AI-powered screening through Propel People's proprietary ProScore engine, which ranks job applicants
• Pre-screen and communicate directly with applicants via text

Building a Community for the Trades

Propel People is more than a hiring platform—it's a growing ecosystem designed to modernize how the trades hire and retain talent. Through partnerships with trade associations, apprenticeship programs, and technology providers, Propel People is committed to empowering contractors with tools that evolve alongside their needs.

The free version of Propel People is available now at propelpeople.ai.

About Propel People:

Propel People is an AI-powered recruiting platform designed exclusively for the skilled trades and construction industry. Built for subcontractors and small-to-mid-sized contractors, Propel combines advanced applicant tracking with mobile-first tools to streamline hiring, reduce time-to-hire, and expand access to skilled trades careers. With a community-first mission, Propel champions apprenticeships, upskilling, and long-term retention—ensuring contractors can compete for talent, projects stay on track, and America's workforce is rebuilt one connection at a time. Learn more at https://propelpeople.ai/.

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SOURCE Propel People