Young Adults Showing Greater Interest in Building Trades

Young adults aged 18 to 25 are showing a growing interest in careers in the construction trades, according to a study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders. However, researchers note that additional efforts are required to inform the public about these satisfying and well-paying career opportunities.

Comparing these new results to research conducted 10 years ago finds that the proportion of young adults considering careers in the skilled trades has doubled—from 3% in 2016 to 6% today. Respondents said the most appealing aspects of these careers are good pay (73%) and the opportunity to develop useful skills (65%).

“While this new research shows that more young adults have a positive attitude toward a career in the construction trades, many are still unaware that careers in the building trades offer workers well paid jobs and opportunities for growth in one of the most in-demand industries in the nation,” said NAHB Chairman Bill Owens, a remodeler from Worthington, Ohio. “High schools need to stress that the skilled trades are a viable alternative to four-year colleges that can pay above median wages and serve as a launching pad for small business development.”

NAHB projects that about 2.2 million newly trained professionals will be needed within the next three years to meet ongoing demand for residential construction and to fill the gaps left by those retiring or departing the industry.

It’s important to note that more than half of the skilled craftsmen currently in residential construction work for remodeling firms. This is a significant change from the early 2000s, when only around 30% of skilled trades workers were employed by remodeling firms.

NAHB Supports Legislation and Programs

In response to the labor challenge, NAHB supports the CONSTRUCTS Act, a bipartisan bill under consideration in the U.S. House and Senate. The legislation aims to alleviate labor shortages in the construction sector by equipping young adults with the training and resources needed to pursue meaningful careers in construction and related trades.

In addition, NAHB has a number of workforce development programs. It supports more than 120 student chapters around the country, mostly in colleges and universities, although more than 20 of them are in high schools. NAHB also has several workforce development partnerships with youth programs, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and SkillsUSA. NAHB’s philanthropic arm, the National Housing Endowment, sponsors the Housing Education Leadership Program (HELP), which provides funding to construction management programs at roughly 60 universities.

NAHB’s workforce development partner, the Home Builders Institute (HBI), is the largest provider of construction trades training under the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps program. Every year, HBI works with thousands of young people, service members leaving the U.S. military, justice-involved youth, and others to help prepare them for careers in residential construction.

Many of NAHB’s state and local home builders association (HBA) partners also promote workforce development through career fairs and support of student chapters, outreach to community colleges and trade schools, and other programs.

Finding and retaining well-qualified, dependable employees is a challenge in the remodeling industry. If you would like to get involved in any of these workforce development efforts, a great place to start is your local HBA. And if you are interested in hiring interns or full-time employees from local colleges and high schools, then you should connect with an NAHB student chapter in your area. You can find these student chapters through your local or state HBA.