Developing the future of roofing

By Jesse Sanchez. 

A growing movement and how contractors can get involved.   

In an effort to tackle the ongoing labor shortage in the roofing industry, SkillsUSA has emerged as a key player in workforce development, offering vocational training that prepares students for leadership and hands-on roles in skilled trades. In this Read, Listen, Watch® (RLW), host Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with industry leaders to discuss the importance of workforce development through SkillsUSA and the impact it's having on the roofing sector. 

"SkillsUSA is an organization designed to train high school and tech college students to become leaders in their field upon graduation," said John Esbenshade, the National Roofing Contractors Association’s (NRCA) director of workforce development, noting the critical role this organization plays in preparing the next generation for success in various industries, including roofing. 

Launched in 1965, SkillsUSA began as the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) and has grown into a nationwide program supporting over 400,000 students annually. Despite its size, roofing had long been absent from the program’s competitions — until recently. Rick Damato, a retired roofing industry professional and long-time advocate of workforce development, spearheaded the effort to bring roofing into the fold, ensuring the industry would benefit from SkillsUSA's infrastructure. 

"[SkillsUSA] is a vital solution to the ongoing skills gap," Rick explained, expressing the importance of engaging with young professionals early to fill the workforce void left by retiring roofers. 

The podcast’s panel, including Sherri Miles of Miles Roofing and Tim Stephens of Architecture Sheet Metal, discussed how contractors can engage with local vocational schools to promote roofing careers. Tim noted that many schools are eager to collaborate with the roofing industry and getting involved could be as simple as providing equipment or offering mentorship. 

"Teachers are hungry and there's more students who want to participate," Tim said, encouraging contractors to play an active role in shaping future roofing professionals. 

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn more about solving workforce challenges!