North Carolina Construction News staff writer
One year after devastating wildfires swept through parts of Los Angeles, new research suggests that a shortage of skilled labour — not funding — is increasingly slowing disaster recovery efforts across the United States.
A survey released today by The Home Depot Foundation and Morning Consult found nearly 60 per cent of Americans lack high confidence in their community’s ability to rebuild quickly following a natural disaster. Professional contractors who have worked on recovery projects cited access to qualified workers as their greatest challenge.
The findings come as the construction industry faces a looming workforce crisis, with about 40 per cent of current workers expected to retire by 2031. Researchers say the shrinking labour pool is creating delays in rebuilding and prolonging economic disruption in disaster-affected regions.
“We are seeing a clear trend where disaster-impacted communities are experiencing delays in long-term recovery and the rebuilding process, with the lack of available labour being one of the primary issues,” said Erin Izen, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation.
According to the survey, about 36 per cent of U.S. adults say their communities have been affected by a natural disaster within the past five years. Among those involved in rebuilding, more than half — 52 per cent — said the recovery process has taken longer than expected.
Residents in recently impacted regions, including Los Angeles, Texas, North Carolina, Tampa, Fla., Ohio and Kentucky, reported widespread challenges with long-term recovery, with 78 per cent citing ongoing difficulties. On the industry side, more than half of professional contractors surveyed said they faced challenges hiring skilled workers, rising to 60 per cent among those who have worked directly on disaster recovery projects.
In response, The Home Depot Foundation says it is expanding its Path to Pro workforce development initiatives to help address the shortage of skilled trades workers.
Beginning in 2026, the Foundation’s Path to Pro Education Grants program will expand nationwide, allowing construction trade programs in all 50 states — including K-12 schools, community and technical colleges, and nonprofits — to purchase equipment, tools or upgrade training facilities.
The Foundation has also committed $3 million to Southern California wildfire recovery in 2025, including Path to Pro Scholarships offered in partnership with the SkillPointe Foundation. The $2,500 scholarships support students within 60 miles of Los Angeles pursuing post-secondary education in construction-related fields, with more than 70 awarded to date.
Additional efforts include a $1-million partnership with Team Rubicon to support a workforce development pilot that provides veterans and volunteers with industry-recognized Home Builders Institute credentials, creating a mobile corps of skilled workers for disaster zones.
“As an organization focused on community resilience, before, during and after disasters, Team Rubicon feels the impact of the increasing gap in skilled trades workers,” said Danica Deming, the organization’s vice-president of workforce development. “Investing in skilled trades training is essential for building both strong communities and storm-resistant housing.”
The Home Depot Foundation launched the Path to Pro program in 2018 with a $50-million commitment to train the next generation of skilled tradespeople and address the growing labour shortage in the construction industry.
The online survey was conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of The Home Depot Foundation between Nov. 26 and Dec. 17, 2025, and included responses from 6,348 U.S. adults.