As the industry enters its busiest season, the ongoing skilled labor shortage continues to make it difficult for builders to meet demand, and fuels affordability concerns.
Facts:
How is NAHB addressing the labor shortage?
The NAHB is addressing the labor shortage in several ways. The Skilled Labor Fund provides scholarships to attend accredited training schools. Through education, students may develop lifelong, marketable skills while contributing to the broader community.
NAHB created the fund in 2017 in concert with:
The Home Builders Institute (HBI), NAHB’s educational arm, is one of the nation’s key providers of construction skills training. HBI training programs are taught to youth and adult populations, veterans, ex-offenders, and displaced workers. With an 80 percent job placement rate, HBI programs consistently benefit graduates and their communities while providing the industry with a steady flow of skilled workers.
Last year, HBI received a $50 million grant from The Home Depot Foundation to train 20,000 new skilled workers over the next 10 years. Home builder associations across the country are working to buoy interest in residential construction through a robust student chapters program that engages students locally and provides them with industry exposure. NAHB and its affiliated associations are working with local and state governments and public school systems to spur more skills-training programs. The National Housing Endowment awards nearly $200,000 annually to develop and expand construction management programs. These programs at two- and four-year colleges and universities train future generations of industry leaders. Reflecting the growing demand for construction skills training, Congress is also considering ways to increase accessibility.
