Ramp Up Your Workforce Development Outreach with NAHB
The best advocates for the skilled trades are NAHB members and home builders’ associations (HBAs). To help the Federation promote the value of pursuing a career in construction, the NAHB Workforce Development team has several upcoming in-person events and resources to promote the trades in your community.
Workforce Development Champions Forum
The 2023 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) is the perfect time to meet with like-minded peers to discuss innovative strategies to help get youth excited about careers in construction. During the Workforce Development Champions Forum, taking place on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 3:30 p.m. at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in N246, hear from advocates across the country on how they are excelling at matching talent with construction jobs and creating memorable construction-related activities for students.
Creating Successful Partnerships with Boys & Girls Clubs Training Session
Last year, NAHB launched a pilot program connecting HBAs with their local Boys & Girls Clubs. As a result, NAHB members and HBA leadership spearheaded memorable skilled trades activities that made lasting impressions on students, teachers and parents. In this training session at IBS on Monday, Jan. 30, at 1 p.m. at LVCC N253, you’ll learn best practices to create successful workforce development partnerships in your community.
Meet with Staff Experts at IBS
IBS attendees can drop by the NAHB workforce development booth (C19) in the Central Hall next to NAHB HQ to connect with staff from NAHB, the Home Builders Institute and the National Housing Endowment. Learn how you can help bring shop back to your local high school, secure program funding and access resources to promote the trades. Special swag is available for NAHB members who are workforce development champions.
Career and Technical Education Month®
Career and Technical Education Month®, or CTE Month®, is a public awareness campaign that takes place each February to celebrate the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country. Numerous digital assets promoting the month are available for download workforce development resources section of nahb.org.
NAHB will also be highlighting stories of workforce development advocates across the country on the NAHBNow blog throughout the month of February, thanks to the generous support of Andersen Windows & Doors.
NAHB has numerous webinars, in-person events, resources and exciting new partnerships in 2023. To stay up to date on the latest news and tools you can use, sign-up for the Workforce Development Champions Corner bimonthly newsletter.
Latest from NAHBNow
The monthly update provides talking points to help members stay informed with clear and consistent messages on issues affecting the residential construction industry.
NAHB leadership will gather Oct. 6-8 for the 2026 Fall Leadership Meeting in Detroit. Members and HBA staff not in attendance can view livestreams of the key meetings.
Latest Economic News
The U.S. labor market cooled in September, with nonfarm payroll employment increasing by just 29,000 as downward revisions erased most of August’s previously reported strength. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2%, as both employment and the labor force continued to grow.
Private residential construction spending rose in August 2026 following a series of declines during the second quarter of the year. According to the latest construction spending data from the U.S. Census Bureau, private residential construction spending came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $882.3 billion in August, up 1.1% from July but down 4.8% from a year ago.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing how work gets done, but its impact varies considerably across occupations. For most construction occupations, near-term exposure to AI remains relatively low.