Promote the Skilled Trades with New State-Specific Salary Data
NAHB has updated its state-specific salary data for the most popular construction trades to help HBAs and members promote the value of pursuing a skilled trades career in their local areas.
The updated data include the average state wages for 19 construction specialty trade contractors, based on 2020 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (member login required).
Visit NAHB’s Workforce Development Resources to access additional tools you can use in your community, including brochures, posters, videos, customizable op-eds and social media posts.
And, start planning now Careers in Construction Month in October. This annual celebration helps to increase public awareness of the opportunities available in construction trades professions. For ideas on how to reach individuals in your community to promote a career in the trades, consult NAHB's Careers in Construction toolkit for a variety of in-person and virtual event suggestions.
For more information, contact Greg Zick.
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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.
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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.
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