Workforce Development Partnerships Help Fuel the Talent Pipeline
The ongoing scarcity of skilled workers is one of the most significant challenges builders are facing. As a result, many state and local HBAs are partnering with community organizations to develop strategies for attracting the next generation of skilled trades professionals.
Last year, for example, NAHB launched a successful Boys and Girls Club pilot program in which several HBAs partnered with their local club to host a variety of engaging and fun career-focused programming.
To continue building the momentum into 2023, NAHB needs input from members and HBAs on the Boys and Girls program. Please take a moment to complete a short survey to help inform NAHB’s after-school community organization partnership initiatives.
In addition, NAHB is hosting a Creating Successful Partnerships with Boys and Girls Clubs webinar on Feb. 22, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET. NAHB members, executive officers and HBA staff are encouraged to join. The webinar will feature a panel of successful pilot group participants discussing best practices for building a workforce development partnership with a local Boys & Girls Club.
For information on future events or tips on being a skilled trades advocate, visit the Workforce Development Champions page.
Latest from NAHBNow
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released the NAHB Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the third quarter, posting a reading of 62—up one point compared to the previous quarter.
For the first time since 2022, the share of new homes with two-story foyers increased, according to the Census Bureau's Survey of Construction (SOC). Despite the increase, the market share of two-story foyers has generally trended downward since 2017, with most new single-family homes being built without a two-story foyer both nationally and regionally.
Latest Economic News
In the third quarter of 2026, the NAHB Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a reading of 62, up one point compared to the previous quarter. The RMI has remained within a narrow band between 59 and 70 for the past four years.
Mortgage application activity declined as the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose sharply. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application volume, decreased 7.7% month-over-month in September on a seasonally adjusted basis. Compared to a year ago, total mortgage applications were lower by 35.4%.
Mortgage rates rose sharply in September as multiple factors applied significant upward pressure on the U.S. treasury yields. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.86% in September, up nearly 20 basis points (bps) from August.