According to the National Association of Homebuilders’ (NAHB) analysis of the latest 2024 data from the American Community Survey (ACS), the long-running shift in the construction labor force away from construction trades and toward management, business and technical roles is ongoing and gaining momentum. While the total industry employment now exceeds the levels reached during the 2005 to 2006 housing boom, the composition of that workforce has changed markedly. The share of construction trades workers has declined from 71% in 2005 to 59% in 2024. At the same time, the…
Read MoreCategory: Industry News
New York City home renovation sparks record-breaking sale
Interior designer Purvi Padia and founder of REVELRY set out to remodel her five-bedroom, 5,840-square-foot duplex penthouse in the exclusive West Village in New York City to make it feel more welcoming. What followed was a two-year, $6 million transformation that led to a $60 million sale, which came in at nearly three times the neighborhood average price per square foot for luxury condos and represented a 106% increase on the $29 million the owner paid for the apartment in 2016. The star attraction of the remodel that led to…
Read MoreMillennials and Gen Z are diving into renovations in 2026
According to Houzz’s 2026 House & Home Study, more than half of U.S. homeowners are pursuing home renovation plans, with a higher share of millennials and Gen Z diving into renovations. The annual report surveyed more than 20,000 users across the nation to figure out how homeowners are budgeting for their projects, their reasons for renovating, the scope and spend of projects. Marine Sargsyan, the head of economic research at Houzz, said home renovation is continuing at historic levels. The report emphasized older clients prioritizing renovations to age in place,…
Read MoreNick Slevin Returns to NBC’s The Water Zone to Spotlight Water Innovation Through the ABC Green Home Project
Since its launch in 2011, the ABC Green Home Project, created by Builder Media, has spent fifteen years demonstrating how innovation, sustainability and industry collaboration can advance the future of residential construction. Over that time the project has earned multiple industry awards, certifications and national recognition while showcasing the technologies shaping the next generation of high-performance homes. On April 3, 2026, Builder Media Publisher Nick Slevin will return as a guest on the nationally broadcast NBC News Radio program The Water Zone, hosted by water industry leader Rob Starr, to discuss…
Read MoreSenate passes major housing affordability bill
On March 12, 2026, the Senate passed a bill aimed at boosting the supply of housing and bringing down prices. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, written by Sens. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., won 89 votes. The 303-page legislation creates a series of grants and pilot programs for housing construction. Another key section titled “Homes Are For People, Not Corporations,” prohibits large institutional investors from purchasing certain single-family homes, as a way to promote homeownership opportunities for families rather than corporations. “It will mean, for the…
Read MoreConstruction industry accounts for a quarter of recent added jobs
Construction added 33,000 jobs in January, accounting for nearly a quarter of the 130,000 jobs added in the month. This is according to the U.S. Labor Department’s Jobs Report. The recently released ADP national employment report, construction payrolls increased by 19,000 jobs in February. This is out of the total 63,000 jobs added in February, the most since July 2025. While ADP report is not always predictive of the BLS report, it shows a strong construction sector. “Construction continues to be a powerful engine of economic growth. Strong hiring reflects sustained…
Read MoreSupreme Court’s tariff ruling will offer construction relief
On Feb. 20, 2026, the Supreme Court threw out a large number of tariffs that were imposed on imports. This decision is expected to have numerous impacts, including some much-needed relief for building materials and inflation as a whole. A decline in material prices, specifically specialty equipment, HVAC and electrical systems, as well as fixtures, can be an expected result after the ruling. However, tariffs on lumber, steel, copper products and lumber are still in place. Contractors can still expect an overall lessening of material prices. Read More
Read MoreThe Remodeling Labor Market
The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) released a study on the role immigrant labor plays on the remodeling industry. While immigrants account for an estimated one in five workers nationally,in the construction trades they represent about one in three workers. With the recent tightening of immigration laws, standards and work permits the team at JCHS predicts this could potentially strain the building and remodeling labor market. This is especially true in large metro areas. Their research shows that in the seven metros that issued at least 150,000 building…
Read MoreFed cuts rates again, though mortgage rates are already down
The Federal Reserve announced another 25-basis-point cut to the federal funds rate on October 29, marking its second consecutive quarter-point reduction this fall. Though the Fed doesn’t directly control mortgage rates, these decisions influence borrowing costs across the economy. Anticipating the move, mortgage lenders had already begun lowering rates throughout October, with 30-year averages nearing 6%, the lowest level in more than three years. Despite this decline, housing demand remains muted, as mortgage applications have continued to fall. The Fed’s latest rate cut reflects its attempt to balance a slowing…
Read MoreNine major housing markets see price declines in August
U.S. home prices rose just 1.5% in August compared to a year earlier, marking the slowest pace of growth since 2023, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index. This slowdown, down from July’s 1.7% increase, signals that the post-pandemic housing boom continues to lose momentum. In fact, nine of the 20 major metro areas tracked saw year-over-year price declines, and for the fourth consecutive month, home values failed to keep up with inflation. With inflation rising 2.9% during the same period, homeowners effectively lost purchasing power, while potential…
Read More