Introduce Students to Careers in the Trades Through Career Connections Grant
Applications are now open for the Career Connections VI grant through the Skilled Labor Fund (SLF), managed by the National Housing Endowment (NHE).
The purpose of this funding is to support activities that introduce students to careers in residential skilled trades. These can include traditional "career fairs" where students meet prospective employers in a trade show type of format; presentations where industry educates students about career opportunities in residential skilled trades; industry participation in community or school organized career events; or any bona fide activity that promotes the trades to students or endeavors to make employment connections.
All local and state associations are encouraged to apply for funding up to $3,500 to support local career events. Any 2025 activity intended to introduce high school, middle school or elementary school students to careers in residential trades will be considered.
Deadline for applications is Jan. 15, 2025.
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President Trump on Oct. 22 signed an executive order to lower single-family and mortgage costs, and the Treasury Department released new institutional investor rules.
NAHB Chairman Bill Owens issued the following statement today regarding President Trump’s housing executive order.
Latest Economic News
The share of new homes with decks inched upward, from an all-time low of 17.4% in 2024 to 17.8% in 2025, according to NAHB tabulation of data from the HUD/Census Bureau Survey of Construction (SOC).
State-level employment data for September continued to show a mixed labor market, with job gains and losses split across the county. Although national nonfarm payroll employment increased modestly, year-over-year job growth varied considerably across states
Diversifying the construction labor force remains a key priority amid persistent skilled labor shortages. According to NAHB analysis of the 2024 American Community Survey, non-Hispanic White workers account for the majority of the construction industry at 55.8%. Hispanic workers now represent nearly one-third of the labor force at 32.8%, followed by non-Hispanic Black workers at 5% and non-Hispanic Asian workers at 1.8 %.