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

IBS

Sep 02, 2025

NAHB International Builders’ Show Registration Opens for Final Time in Orlando

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) officially opened online registration and housing today for the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show@reg; (IBS), the largest annual light construction trade show in the world.

Economics

Sep 02, 2025

Single-Family Construction Down in Large Metros, Up in Rural Areas

In a sign of a soft housing market, single-family construction posted declines in nearly every geographic region in the second quarter of 2025, with the largest percentage drop of 3.8% occurring in large metro, suburban counties where most permit activity occurs. And while multifamily output also fell in large metro core counties, most other markets posted multifamily growth in the second quarter, according to the latest NAHB Home Building Geography Index (HGBI) for the second quarter of 2025 released today.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Aug 29, 2025

Multifamily Absorption Rises in the Second Quarter

The percentage of new apartment units that were absorbed within three months after completion rose in the second quarter, according to the Census Bureau’s latest release of the Survey of Market Absorption of New Multifamily Units (SOMA).

Economics

Aug 28, 2025

Mortgage Rates Move Lower, Hitting 10-Month Low

Average mortgage rates in August continued their steady decline and are now at their lowest rate since last November.

Economics

Aug 27, 2025

Wood-Framed Home Share Increased in 2024

Wood framing continues to dominate the U.S. single-family home construction market, according to NAHB analysis of 2024 Census Bureau data.