SkillsUSA is building the workforce of tomorrow

By Emma Peterson. 

How SkillsUSA is preparing the next generation of roofing and construction professionals through competitions and conferences. 

The phrase “labor shortage” is far from unfamiliar for anyone who has been around the roofing sector or the larger construction trade. In fact, reports indicate that 36% of roofing contractors were concerned about a lack of qualified workers heading into 2026 and that by 2032, there will be “about 22 times more new hires needed in the trades to keep up with demand.” As for the larger construction trade according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the industry is short of somewhere around 500,000 skilled workers.  

How do we overcome these staggering numbers and build up our workforce effectively? One way is by supporting SkillsUSA! SkillsUSA is a workforce development organization that represents more than 440,000 career and technical education students and teachers. According to the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), “[The] trades have relied on SkillsUSA as a pipeline system for new workers since the 1960s. If the roofing industry recruited even 5% of these students, it would have more than 5,000 new roofing workers annually.” 

How do they act as a pipeline for so many workers? SkillsUSA is embedded in CTE classrooms with programming designed to build students' personal, workplace and technical skills, enabling them to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members.  

They also host a variety of events that support the development of the next generation of tradespeople. Probably most well-known is their regional, state and national competitions, where students train with mentors and then showcase their skills. The SkillsUSA Championships occur during SkillsUSA’s annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta, Georgia. NLSC is all about developing workplace skills, earning industry credentials and building professional networks. And this year, SkillsUSA is putting the spotlight on construction-related trades with a first-of-its-kind Immersive Experience: Construction at NLSC 2026 supported by Lowe’s Foundation and Bosch Community Fund.  

This immersive experience spans three days and connects 100 students with hands-on workforce development “that allows students to experience the job before they get the job through authentic, industry-led learning.” The schedule opens on June 2 with construction scenario challenges and carpentry training. On day two (June 3), students will get to walk through and tour a variety of professional spaces, including an active job site, and attend an employer insights panel. The last day (June 4), dives into NC3 Credentialing, hand tool practice and 3M PPE training.  

As roofing and construction continue to face workforce gaps, SkillsUSA is helping nurture job-ready professionals through hands-on training, competition and leadership development. Supporting programs like SkillsUSA, and the new immersive construction experience at NLSC 2026, is a practical way for the industry to strengthen its talent pipeline and build the workforce of tomorrow. 

Learn more about SkillsUSA, the new Immersive Experience: Construction and how you can support the next generation of professionals!