America’s shortage of skilled trades workers is straining homebuilding, infrastructure and a growing wave of commercial projects, as the industry struggles to bring younger workers into careers such as plumbing, electrical work and HVAC.
Home Builders Institute (HBI) President and CEO Ed Brady joined FOX Business’ Cheryl Casone on “Mornings with FOX Business” to discuss the skilled labor shortage and the need to expand training opportunities for young people and transitioning service members.
“With 300,000 empty jobs in the trades today, plumbers, electricians, painters, HVAC technicians, we’re really challenged with building the infrastructure, building the commercial bridges, roads and homes in this country today,” Brady said.
The shortage is also creating competition for workers across different parts of the construction industry. Brady said the expansion of commercial data centers is drawing contractors and skilled labor away from residential construction, adding another constraint on homebuilding.
“We have to bring more people into this industry. We have to provide resources and opportunities for our young people to get into the skilled trades,” Brady said.
Brady said attracting younger workers will become increasingly important as the industry struggles to replace those leaving the workforce.
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“We’re losing more than we’re bringing into the industry. So this problem is going to be accentuated even before it is improved,” Brady said.
Brady argued that changing perceptions of trade careers will be an important part of rebuilding the workforce, particularly for young people deciding what to do after high school.
“We need to educate our young people. We need to educate parents and educators and legislators that these are six-figure jobs. These are people that are coming out of high school making $30 an hour, have [the] opportunity to own their own business, and we just need to educate,” he said.
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HBI is also expanding its training efforts for service members and veterans with support from Google.org. Brady said the organization currently operates in 10 military and veteran services locations and placed 87% of its transitioning military students into career jobs last year.
“Google’s money will allow us to scale,” Brady said, adding that the program can help service members earn credentials and enter the industry.
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