North Carolina Builders Boost Workforce Development Efforts
The North Carolina home building industry is taking meaningful action to increase the visibility of technical careers and training opportunities available in the state. The North Carolina Home Builders Educational and Charitable Foundation recently signed a $5 million contract with the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) to officially launch the Be Pro Be Proud workforce development pilot program. Be Pro Be Proud, which began as an initiative in Arkansas, aims to change the public’s perception of technical careers.
The goal of the program is to stimulate student, parent, and educator interest in technical professions within the construction, manufacturing, transportation, and utility industries. The program will be administered by the foundation with oversight from NCDOL. Funding is provided by the state and includes collaborations with several local government offices, community, and industry partners.
“Labor is the number one issue for our industry right now, and Be Pro Be Proud is one meaningful way for us to move the needle in the right direction,” said Tim Minton, North Carolina Home Builders Association Executive Vice President. “We are excited to play an active role in this partnership, as we know this program will put North Carolina ahead of the curve in terms of addressing the needs of the workforce.”
The program utilizes a custom-built mobile workshop trailer that is outfitted with virtual reality simulations and provides hands-on experience with skilled professionals. The mobile workshop offers a dynamic environment for middle and high school students to step into a life of a technical professional.
After touring the mobile unit, students who are interested in learning more will be connected to additional opportunities for hands-on learning and volunteering. Invitations to networking events with job and postsecondary school recruiters also will be provided. The first mobile workshop stops are tentatively scheduled for the fall 2022 school year.
Latest from NAHBNow
Awards | IBS
Feb 23, 2026
NAHB’s Best in American Living Awards Highlight Top Design Trends for 2026NAHB received nearly 650 application submissions for the 2025 Best in American Living™ Awards, sponsored by Smeg. The winners—66 Gold winners who took home top honors and 159 Silver winners—were announced last week at the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando.
Workforce Development
Feb 23, 2026
How Students are Turning Classrooms into Residential Construction LaunchpadsFrom showcase homes to hands-on jobsite shadowing, high school students are taking more immersive pathways toward potential careers in construction.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Feb 20, 2026
New Home Sales Close 2025 with Modest GainsNew home sales ended 2025 on a mixed but resilient note, signaling steady underlying demand despite ongoing affordability and supply constraints. The latest data released today (and delayed because of the government shutdown in fall of 2025) indicate that while month-to-month activity shows a small decline, sales remain stronger than a year ago, signaling that buyer interest in newly built homes has improved.
Economics
Feb 20, 2026
U.S. Economy Ends 2025 on a Slower NoteReal GDP growth slowed sharply in the fourth quarter of 2025 as the historic government shutdown weighed on economic activity. While consumer spending continued to drive growth, federal government spending subtracted over a full percentage point from overall growth.
Economics
Feb 19, 2026
Delinquency Rates Normalize While Credit Card and Student Loan Stress WorsensDelinquent consumer loans have steadily increased as pandemic distortions fade, returning broadly to pre-pandemic levels. According to the latest Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 4.8% of outstanding household debt was delinquent at the end of 2025, 0.3 percentage points higher than the third quarter of 2025 and 1.2% higher from year-end 2024.