Positive Developments on the Workforce Development Front
NAHB scored important victories this week on the workforce development front, with legislation introduced that is targeted specifically to increase job training in the residential construction sector and a Senate appropriations panel approving robust funding for Job Corps in fiscal year 2025.
NAHB commends Sen. Jackie Rosen (D-Nev.) for introducing the CONSTRUCTS Act, legislation that will ease the severe labor shortage in the home building industry that is causing construction delays and raising housing costs.
“In any given month, there is a shortage of roughly 400,000 construction workers,” said NAHB Chairman Carl Harris. “By supporting new and existing residential construction education programs, the CONSTRUCTS Act will help ensure we have enough workers to build the homes our nation needs.”
The same day that Sen. Rosen dropped her bill on Aug. 1, the Senate Labor-HHS appropriations committee approved funding for Job Corps in fiscal year 2025 at a level of $1.76 billion, the same amount that was approved in the previous fiscal year.
Job Corps is a vital source of skilled labor for the housing industry, and NAHB has lobbied aggressively to ensure this program remains fully funded after House appropriators last year proposed to abolish the program as part of a 30% reduction of the agency’s fiscal year 2024 budget. Thanks largely to NAHB’s efforts, congressional appropriators changed course and moved to fully fund Job Corps at $1.76 billion in fiscal year 2024.
Last month, the House Labor-HHS appropriations committee approved language that will maintain Job Corps’ funding level at $1.76 billion in fiscal year 2025. With the Senate Labor-HHS appropriations committee following suit, this is a significant win for the housing industry.
Our message that a housing supply shortage is the primary cause of growing housing affordability challenges and ensuring we have enough workers to build the homes the nation needs is ringing loud and clear on Capitol Hill.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Apr 30, 2026
Fed Changes Leadership, but Powell Stays On BoardFed Chair Jerome Powell is not expected to fully step away from the Federal Reserve. Instead, he plans to continue serving as a member of the Board of Governors as long as the Justice Department's probe into the cost of the Fed’s headquarters renovations remains active.
Workforce Development
Apr 29, 2026
Indiana Students Explore Career Paths Beyond a Four-Year DegreeThe Builders Association of Elkhart County (Ind.) connects local students with hands‑on construction experiences that open their eyes to career paths beyond a four‑year degree.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Apr 30, 2026
U.S. Economy Rebounded in the First Quarter of 2026Real GDP growth accelerated in the first quarter of 2026, rebounding from a weak finish at the end of 2025, as government spending recovered following a disruptive shutdown.
Economics
Apr 29, 2026
Powell’s Chair Ends but He Keeps His Board SeatThe April meeting of the Fed’s monetary policy committee featured a lot of institutional news for a month in which the Fed kept monetary policy unchanged. The outlook for the economy and monetary policy remains unclear due to geopolitical turbulence and domestic policy uncertainty.
Economics
Apr 29, 2026
Home Building Shows Signs of Stabilization with Monthly Gain in StartsHousing construction activity strengthened in March, with a notable rebound in both single-family and multifamily starts, signaling improved builder activity despite ongoing headwinds from financing costs and affordability constraints. While the monthly gain points to renewed momentum, year-to-date trends remain mixed, particularly in the single-family sector, and permit activity suggests some caution moving forward.