America’s 2026 construction gap: Building faster than training
The US construction industry is facing a labor gap, with 40 states having more housing permits than registered apprenticeships. Texas and Florida top the list, with the largest number of permits and a significant gap between demand and workforce pipeline.
The US construction industry is experiencing a labor gap. Across the country, 40 states have more housing permits than registered apprenticeships. Texas and Florida have the largest number of permits, with 225,756 and 173,326 respectively in 2024. The labor pipeline is not expanding at the same pace as construction demand. A study analyzed housing permits and apprenticeship activity across 50 states, assigning a 'Gap Score' to each state. The top 10 states account for 46.4% of all permits analyzed.
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