Aspiring Home Building Professionals Compete in SkillsUSA Competition

Workforce Development
Published
Contact: Greg Zick
[email protected]
AVP, Workforce Development
(202) 266-8493

Students at SkillsUSA Washington Competition. Credit: Sailor Rozema / BIA Washington
Students working to construct fixtures at the SkillsUSA Washington competition. Photo credit: Sailor Rozema / BIA Washington 
Students at SkillsUSA Washington Competition. Credit: Sailor Rozema / BIA Washington
Students measuring frames at the SkillsUSA Washington competition. Photo credit: Sailor Rozema / BIA Washington 
Students at SkillsUSA Washington Competition. Credit: Sailor Rozema / BIA Washington
Students using power tools at the SkillsUSA Washington competition. Photo credit: Sailor Rozema / BIA Washington 
Students at SkillsUSA Washington Competition. Credit: Sailor Rozema / BIA Washington
Pierce County Skills Center students won the gold medal in carpentry at the SkillsUSA Washington competition. Photo credit: Sailor Rozema / BIA Washington

The talents of a diverse group of aspiring home building professionals were on display last month as thousands of students from Washington state put their skills to the test in the statewide SkillsUSA competition.

The event, which boasted more than 90 different competitions ranging from industrial motor control to plumbing, showcased the students’ real-world skills in front of industry professional judges.

“It was a very successful event,” said Al Audette, education and workforce development director for the Building Industry Association of Washington. “Our members had a great time seeing what students are doing in shop classes around the state.”

NAHB’s strong partnership with SkillsUSA, the national education nonprofit, continues to drive a targeted effort on enhancing workforce development and addressing the nation’s skilled labor shortage.

“The students not only had exposure to what other schools around the state are doing,” said Audette, “they were also able to learn from our members who served as mentors.”

SkillsUSA will host 53 key state-level competitions — including events in Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands — throughout the spring. 

Winners from around the nation will ultimately compete during the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta June 24-28. 

NAHB encourages its members to get involved and help attract budding talent in residential construction to take part in SkillsUSA activities. Learn more about NAHB’s partnership with SkillsUSA at nahb.org.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Labor | Advocacy
Sep 25, 2026
NAHB Responds as Immigration Enforcement Keeps Legal Workers Off Job Sites

As the housing industry faces a severe labor shortage, NAHB members report that increased immigration enforcement and jobsite raids are heightening worker fears and further straining the construction labor pool.

Advocacy
Sep 24, 2026
NAHB Helps Kick Off Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall

NAHB Chairman Bill Owens was on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., yesterday to help open the 2026 Innovative Housing Showcase, an annual event presented by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics
Sep 25, 2026
State and Local Government Tax Revenue Grows

Total tax revenue collected by state and local governments was up 5.8% from a year ago in the second quarter, according to the Quarterly Summary of State and Local Government Tax Revenue published by the U.S. Census Bureau. This was the highest year-over-year growth since the third quarter of 2024 (7.2%).

Economics
Sep 24, 2026
New Home Sales Rise as Affordability Challenges Continue

New home sales improved in August, but the monthly gain masked continued weakness in the broader new-home market. Elevated mortgage rates and ongoing affordability challenges continue to constrain demand, with new home sales remaining below last year’s pace and year-to-date sales lower than in 2025.

Economics
Sep 24, 2026
Single-Family Detached Homes Still Dominate Among the 55+ Population

Adults ages 55 and older make up a large and growing share of the U.S. population and play an important role in the U.S. housing market. In 2024, around 103 million Americans were ages 55 or older, ranging from adults still in the labor force to retirees.