For years, builders have warned that the biggest threat to growth isn’t rates—it’s labor. You can’t build what you can’t staff.
But new data from the National Association of Home Builders offers encouraging evidence: Gen Z is entering the trades faster than most people realize.
According to the latest ACS data, the share of Gen Z workers in construction jumped from 6.4% in 2019 to 14.1% in 2023. The median age of the construction workforce is now 42—nearly identical to the overall U.S. labor force at 41. That gap used to be much broader.
Why the shift?
College debt and credential inflation are pushing younger workers to reconsider the trades. Construction offers high earning potential, job security, and rapid upward mobility—especially in residential building, where a young hire can move from laborer to superintendent in 3–5 years.
But here’s the catch: interest is rising, and competition for the best young talent will rise just as fast.
Mini Checklist: Is Your Company Gen Z–Attractive?
- Are you offering a career path, not just a paycheck?
- Do you have visible mentorship or apprenticeship pathways?
- Is there tech on your jobs—or just manual grind?
- Would a motivated 22-year-old see upward momentum here?
- Are you actively recruiting—or waiting for résumés?
Read the full NAHB breakdown here (and see the data for yourself):
