AI Overview
In 2025, the U.S. construction industry needs to attract an estimated 439,000 net new workers to meet the expected demand for construction services. This is according to a model from Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).
It's important to note that this figure represents the number of new workers needed, not the exact number of advertised job openings at any given moment. The actual number of advertised jobs would fluctuate based on various factors like project timelines and seasonal variations.
While this data highlights the significant labor demand in the construction sector, information about the precise, real-time number of advertised jobs is not available in the provided search results.
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+many+us+construction+jobs+are+being+advertized+in+the+us+2025&s
U.S. Apprenticeship Programs Falling Short of Filling Chronic Worker Shortage
Despite
substantial investments in the apprenticeship training system by companies and
federal and state governments, there is still a chronic shortage of
construction workers in the U.S.
That’s the bottom line in an analysis of U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) data done recently by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), a national construction industry association that is based on the merit shop philosophy and represents more than 23,000 members.
ABC members invested an estimated $1.6 billion in construction industry workforce development to upskill 1.3 million course attendees in 2023, including hundreds of government-registered apprenticeship programs (GRAPs) administered independently by ABC member companies. However, in January, the construction industry was short 439,000 workers.
The construction industry had 8.31 million employees as of February 2025, with an unemployment rate between 3.2 and 4.2 per cent during peak construction months in 2024. The ABC maintains the latest data suggests that federal and state GRAPs are failing to meet the construction industry’s short- and long-term skilled workforce development needs.
In fiscal year 2024, the construction industry’s federal and state GRAPs had about 290,000 apprentice participants and yielded less than 40,000 completers, the ABC estimates.
“Unfortunately,
America’s government-registered apprenticeship system isn’t keeping up
with construction
industry demand for
skilled craft professionals, despite encouraging progress by many stakeholders
to create new programs, attract new apprentices and graduate journeymen and
women at the end of a rigorous four-to-five year apprenticeship program,”
explained Ben Brubeck, vice-president of regulatory, labour and state affairs
at ABC.
“Despite the growth of non-union GRAPs, this data is further evidence that an all-of-the-above approach to workforce development – in contrast to the Biden administration’s policy that advanced only government-registered apprenticeship programs – is the best way to address the construction industry’s chronic skilled labor shortage.”
According to the ABC, the data provided by the DOL presents five-year trend lines that indicate stronger proportional growth in the number of non-union GRAPs apprentice participants and apprentice completers, compared to union-affiliated GRAPs since 2019.
Has trade school enrollment increased in us 2025 ?
Yes,
trade school enrollment in the US is currently experiencing a significant
increase in 2025. This trend is driven by factors like the demand for skilled
labor, the desire for job security, and the recognition of the financial
benefits of vocational training. Reports indicate a notable surge in
enrollment numbers, with some projecting continued growth for the next several
years.
Evidence of Growth:
Increased Enrollment: Trade school enrollment has seen a substantial increase, with some sources citing a 16% rise between 2022 and 2023.
Projected Growth: Projections indicate that trade school enrollment will continue to grow, potentially outpacing overall higher education enrollment.
Industry Demand: The demand for skilled trades is on the rise, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting a substantial increase in trade-related employment opportunities through 2032.
Gen
Z's Preference: Some reports suggest that Gen Z is increasingly opting for
trade schools over traditional four-year colleges, contributing to the
growth.
Factors Contributing to the Increase:
Job Security: The demand for skilled trades provides a sense of job security and stability, making trade schools an attractive option.
Financial Stability: Trade programs often offer shorter and more direct paths to employment, potentially leading to quicker financial independence.
Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to the rising costs of traditional higher education, trade schools may be more financially accessible for some students.
Perception Shift: There's a growing recognition of the value and importance of skilled trades, leading to a positive shift in perception.
Shop
classes, also known as vocational
education or career
and technical education (CTE), began to decline in high schools in the
late 20th century, with a more significant drop occurring in the 1990s and
early 2000s. This decline was influenced by several factors, including a
shift in educational priorities towards academic subjects and college
preparation, as well as concerns about funding and safety.
https://www.google.com/search?q=when+were+shop+classes+dropped+from+high+school
Comments
The 439,000 Construction jobs include the home repair and up-grading being done. Home purchases are out of reach for 50% of the US population due to high interest rates and record high home prices. Some of these Construction Jobs include specialized knowledge in building Manufacturing Plants. Foreign Auto Manufacturers will require Visas to have their own employees train and supervise the construction of their planned US Plants.
It will take some time to overcome the shortage in construction jobs that were filled by illegals since the 1980s. Trade Schools will need to include programs for Electricians, Plumbers, Welders, Carpenters, Drywall Installers, Concrete Finishers, Brick Layers and Stone Masons.
Many high school grads have enrolled in skilled trades apprenticeship programs, but quit short of becoming “licensed” and have moved on to “non-trade” jobs. The return of shop classes to the high school curriculum will give students a chance to confirm their career training choices earlier. Trade skills are useful to Home Owners and Car Owners.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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