NAHB Workforce Partnership Playbook
NAHB and Ford Next Generation Learning have come together with a shared goal: to help local communities build strong, sustainable partnerships between the home building industry and the education system. The NAHB Workforce Partnership Playbook is the product of that collaboration. It’s a helpful guide to facilitate real-world learning experiences for youth that highlight career opportunities in the industry.
NAHB Workforce Partnership Playbook Chapters
This chapter lays the groundwork for your company’s journey into workforce educational partnerships. You’ll explore why deeper collaboration between the residential construction industry and education is no longer optional — it’s essential. From understanding the difference between transactional and transformational engagement to identifying your organization’s first steps, this chapter introduces the mindset and model needed to build partnerships that last and deliver real impact. Download Chapter 1.
Now that you’ve explored the full partnership process, it’s time to dive into the first quadrant — Develop. This stage focuses on laying the groundwork for intentional relationships that deliver lasting value for students, schools and your business. Developing meaningful partnerships with educational institutions is an intentional process. This chapter focuses on building a foundation through shared purpose, honest assessment and smart alignment with existing structures like your local Home Builders Association. Download Chapter 2.
This chapter focuses on Quadrant 2: Implement & Manage — the part of the partnership process where your planning turns into action. But here’s the key: great engagement doesn’t happen by chance. It happens through intentional design. Just like building a house, successful implementation requires a solid plan. Without it, things fall apart. The same goes for partnerships. Industry and education must work together to co-design each engagement activity with purpose, alignment, and shared goals. When planned and managed intentionally, these activities create meaningful, lasting impact for students, educators and employers alike. Download Chapter 3.
In Chapter 3, you explored how to implement and manage meaningful engagement activities that connect students with the real world of residential construction. But even the best-designed plans won’t succeed without the people who bring them to life. This chapter deepens the work of Quadrant 2: Implement & Manage by focusing on a critical implementation ingredient which is your volunteers. Whether serving as guest speakers, worksite tour hosts or project mentors, their presence transforms abstract ideas into real possibilities. When volunteers are prepared and supported, they don’t just show up — they inspire. Download Chapter 4.
Chapter 5 focuses on Quadrant 3: Measure & Improve — helping you reflect on your engagement activities, collect meaningful data and use feedback to strengthen future engagement. Whether you’re hosting a single classroom visit or a multi-week internship, measurement ensures your work leads to real, lasting impact. Many businesses skip measurement, assuming schools will handle it. In reality, tracking outcomes is one of the most powerful strategies you can use to strengthen and sustain partnerships. Download Chapter 5.
In the construction industry, the aging and retiring workforce has created a real sense of urgency. To attract, train and retain the next generation of skilled workers, many builders and HBAs are turning to educational partnerships. This chapter brings their stories and strategies to life. You’ll explore the most common challenges in school-industry partnerships and walk away with practical advice, informative quotes and creative solutions that have helped partners move from stuck to successful. Download Chapter 6.
Whether you’re just beginning to build partnerships or scaling up your workforce efforts, this chapter provides the ready-to-use tools you need to take action with confidence. From guest speaking to teacher externships, each resource is designed to simplify logistics, support your team and create impactful experiences for students within your educational partnerships. Download Chapter 7.
The construction industry is evolving, and so are the expectations around workforce partnerships. As retirements rise, younger generations enter the trades with new values while schools seek deeper collaboration with the business community. The question is no longer whether you should partner; it’s about how you should lead in the partnership process. This chapter is about making sure your partnership work grows and lasts and that it scales and truly becomes part of how your company operates. Download Chapter 8.
