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Home Builders Institute President and CEO Ed Brady discusses how a severe construction worker shortage is fueling the U.S. housing crisis and explains how the AI data center build out is pulling skilled labor away from residential home building.
America's shortage of skilled trades workers is straining homebuilding, infrastructure and a growing wave of commercial projects, as the industry struggles to bring younger workers into careers such as plumbing, electrical work and HVAC.
Home Builders Institute (HBI) President and CEO Ed Brady joined FOX Business’ Cheryl Casone on "Mornings with FOX Business" to discuss the skilled labor shortage and the need to expand training opportunities for young people and transitioning service members.
The skilled trades face a worker shortage as the industry looks to attract a new generation. (Scott Olson / Getty Images)
"With 300,000 empty jobs in the trades today, plumbers, electricians, painters, HVAC technicians, we're really challenged with building the infrastructure, building the commercial bridges, roads and homes in this country today," Brady said.
The shortage is also creating competition for workers across different parts of the construction industry. Brady said the expansion of commercial data centers is drawing contractors and skilled labor away from residential construction, adding another constraint on homebuilding.
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"We have to bring more people into this industry. We have to provide resources and opportunities for our young people to get into the skilled trades," Brady said.
Brady said attracting younger workers will become increasingly important as the industry struggles to replace those leaving the workforce.
"We're losing more than we're bringing into the industry. So this problem is going to be accentuated even before it is improved," Brady said.
Home Builders Institute President and CEO Ed Brady discusses how a severe construction worker shortage is fueling the U.S.