The Home Builders Institute (HBI) continues to play an important role in bridging the skilled labor shortage for the construction industry. In 2025, the organization enrolled and awarded pre-apprenticeship certificates to over 20,000 students, added more than 40 new schools to its Future Builders of America program, and brought HBI-licensed curriculum to dozens more community organizations.
“2025 was a year of momentum and measurable impact. Together, we expanded opportunities for thousands of individuals, strengthened our partnerships, and laid the foundation for sustainable growth across HBI’s programs,” president and CEO Ed Brady said in the HBI’s 2025 Impact Report. “Our progress reflects a simple truth: when industry, educators, and communities work in concert, we can open doors to meaningful careers and help meet America’s urgent housing needs.”
The HBI’s most recent Construction Labor Market Report suggests the construction industry needs to hire 723,000 additional workers per year to keep pace with demand patterns. The labor shortage is also having a monetary impact due to longer construction timelines and increased carrying costs. A study conducted by the HBI indicates the labor shortage contributes to $2.7 billion in higher carrying costs and $8.1 billion in lost production tied to roughly 19,000 homes not built annually.
“This evidence strengthens our resolve—and informs our strategy—to scale training pathways and speed talent into high-demand jobs,” said Brady. “HBI’s main goal is to serve our students and set them on a path for success.”
The HBI’s approach to solving the labor shortage spans five core pillars: Job Corps, community and corrections, transitioning military, Future Builders of America, and the HBI BuildStrong Academies. The organization provides students with no-cost pre-apprenticeship training and certification programs as well as job placement services.
In the calendar year 2025, HBI enrolled 20,101 students across its five pillar programs and helped 20,218 earn pre-apprenticeship certifications. Three-quarters of students enrolled were in the Future Builders of America program, while 65% of certificates were awarded to students from that program. Among enrollees for all programs, 51% were between the ages of 18 and 24 and 21% were between the ages of 25 and 34. A plurality of certificates were awarded in carpentry, electrical, and green building trades.
Additionally, 99% of BuildStrong Academy graduates were placed in employment or continuing education. The HBI added 44 new schools to its Future Builders of America program through the Schools to Skills grant and now has 55 community organizations delivering HBI-licensed curriculum.
“In 2025, HBI strengthened its role as a leader in workforce training—serving students and communities across the country with programs designed to meet real-world needs,” said Eugene Graf, 2025 chair of the HBI board of trustees. “Through innovation, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to excellence, we are expanding opportunities for individuals to build rewarding careers while addressing the industry’s critical labor needs.”
As part of the 2025 Impact Report, the HBI reported on the successes of each of its five focus areas:
Job Corps: The HBI has served as a national training provider under contract with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps program for more than 50 years. The organization has 120 programs across the country. In 2025, Job Corps programs enrolled 1,815 students and awarded 1,197 certifications.
Community and Corrections: The HBI expanded its community-based programs and corrections training in 2025 to reach more underserved populations. Fifty-five community organizations now implement training using HBI’s licensed curriculum. New programs include a partnership to provide plumbing and carpentry with Goodwill Industries of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida, and a partnership with the Auberle Employment Institute in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
Military Services: Through no-cost training programs, HBI has been able to provide career pathways for thousands of military veterans, their spouses, and dependents across 10 DOD SkillBridge locations and two non-SkillBridge training sites. In 2025, HBI military service students worked with Habitat for Humanity affiliates on more than 35 projects across 10 states. For the full year, the program graduated 769 students and awarded 3,043 certificates.
Future Builders of America: The FBA program introduces young individuals to opportunities within the industry. In 2025, the HBI increased FBA Schools to Skills funding to $325,000 and introduced 44 new schools to the HBI’s curriculum. The HBA has more than 450 programs across the country and enrolled 15,544 students in 2025.
Academies: In March 2025, HBI opened its first BuildStrong Academy in Puerto Rico and hit its first year enrollment goal at the academy within just a few months of opening. The organization launched a new pilot program in September 2025 at its BuildStrong Academy in Orlando, designed to help veterans launch careers in the skilled trades. HBI also began a BuildStrong Affiliate program in 2025 and added the Building Industry Association of Washington as a participant.
