THIS LABOR DAY, ADDRESSING TRADE SHORTAGES THROUGH INNOVATIVE STUDENT TRAINING PROGRAM IS DUBBED "A TRIPLE WIN"

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This year's Labor Day holiday marks a peculiar time for the U.S. labor market. Uncertainty plagues many industries, with labor shortages on one hand and at the same time, businesses in other fields are experiencing cutbacks and layoffs.

One area that appears to be consistently immune to these types of whipsaw fluctuations is the skilled trades workforce. For years, there has been a persistent and severe labor shortage, according to leading industry organizations like the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA). By some accounts, the construction trade needs approximately 450,000 new workers this year alone.

Even with some regional housing markets slowing down, the demand isn't expected to decrease anytime soon, especially given that one in five construction workers are 55 or older, meaning the labor need will only increase as older workers begin to retire.

That's why getting young people interested in the trades as a future career path is an essential connection to make, says Renee Ramey, MRA executive director. Yet the U.S. educational system does not prioritize trade education as part of core curriculum at either the high school or higher education level.

"Everyone can pretty much agree that housing is a major need in many areas of the country. It's also a massive business and career opportunity for workers looking to get into the trades," said Ramey. "Unfortunately, there is a real lack of focus to help young people not only understand how to get the skills they need, but to even consider it as a potential long-term career."

Innovative programs filling the gap

Innovative upstart programs in participating schools are beginning to change the situation. Supported by private companies such as MRA member Westlake Royal Building Products, the Warrior Village Project is a unique way to provide hands-on technical training to high school students by combining material support with practical education.

The program, which involves San Marcos High School in San Marcos, Calif., San Pasqual High School in Escondido, Calif., and Rancho Buena Vista High School in Vista, Calif., teaches students the basics of homebuilding. They gain real-world skills by constructing tiny homes that are then donated to help house homeless veterans. From the ground up framing, electrical, plumbing, roofing–all the way to completion–the project gives these students a solid foundation in learning the residential construction industry.

It's also a triple-win: students get hands-on trade skills training and participate in a confidence-building, feel-good experience, the community benefits from their skills and talents, and it's a way to give back to veterans in need. The Warrior Village Project helps close the gender gap by providing training to all interested students in a field that has traditionally been male dominated, providing a much-needed pathway for young women to enter the industry.

The students also get to work with the latest building materials and products like the stone-coated metal roofing, 100 percent donated by Westlake Royal Building Products. The company's experts give their time to mentor and show the students how to properly install a metal roof on the project homes. Since 2019, Westlake has been involved in about a half dozen Warrior Village homes and nearly 60 students during that time have benefited from the hands on training the company has provided.

For companies like Westlake Royal Building Products, getting young people interested in the trades and familiar with essential components like roofing is a major benefit.

"There's a big need to show students there are other solid avenues and options that are available to them," said Tim Brown, Westlake Royal Building Products.  "Students who participate in the Warrior Village Project get excited about being involved and achieving something significant, especially when they know their work is directly helping people in need. That hopefully inspires them to consider a career in the trades by opening their eyes to the long-term possibilities."

About the MRA

Representing the residential metal roofing industry in the United States and Canada, the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) was formed to help educate consumers about the many benefits of metal roofing. For more information about MRA membership, residential metal roofing resources and tools, visit MRA at www.metalroofing.com.

Contact: Darcie Meihoff, Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), [email protected] or 971-998-3782 to request high-res images or additional information

SOURCE Metal Roofing Alliance