NAHB Opposes Move by House GOP Appropriators to Eliminate Job Corps
In a move strongly opposed by NAHB, House Republican appropriators are proposing to eliminate the Department of Labor’s Job Corps program as part of a 30% reduction to the agency’s fiscal year 2024 budget.
In a letter to House Republican and Democratic appropriations leaders, NAHB stressed that “for nearly 50 years, Job Corps has been the nation’s most successful career preparation program for our most disadvantaged youth. Job Corps offers real-life, hands-on training to help young people acquire three vital pieces of the employment puzzle: trades training, basic academics and employability skills.”
In partnership with NAHB, the Home Building Institute (HBI) is a national leader for career training and job placement in the building industry. For more than 45 years, HBI has been a trusted and valued national training program contracted by the Department of Labor when outsourcing their Job Corps construction training contracts.
Given the severe labor shortage in the residential construction industry and housing’s importance to the economy, NAHB is calling on House Republican appropriators to restore the Job Corps program in the fiscal 2024 labor appropriations bill and provide full funding for this vital program.
Latest from NAHBNow
Feb 17, 2026
2026 Housing Outlook: Ongoing Challenges, Cautious Optimism and Incremental GainsThe housing market will continue to face several headwinds in 2026, including economic policy uncertainty as well as a softening labor market and ongoing affordability problems. But easing financial conditions led by an anticipated modest reduction in mortgage rates should help to somewhat offset these market challenges and support production and sales, according to economists speaking at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla. today.
Feb 17, 2026
Multifamily Market Expected to Cool in 2026 as Vacancies RiseThe rental market has slowed following a pandemic-era boom due to demographic changes, softer labor market and rising vacancies and is moving towards a more constrained development environment, according to economists speaking at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show in Orlando today.
Latest Economic News
Feb 17, 2026
Builder Sentiment Edges Lower on Affordability ConcernsBuilder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes fell one point to 36 in February, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).
Feb 17, 2026
How Rising Costs Affect Home AffordabilityHousing affordability remains a critical issue, with 65% of U.S. households unable to afford a median-priced new home in 2026. When mortgage rates are elevated, even a small increase in home prices can have a big impact on housing affordability.
Feb 16, 2026
Cost of Credit for Builders & Developers at Its Lowest Since 2022The cost of credit for residential construction and development declined in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to NAHB’s quarterly survey on Land Acquisition, Development & Construction (AD&C) Financing.