Labor shortages are the bane of the housing industry, one of the roots of high home prices and the lack of new construction. Colleges, however, are starting to get more students involved with the trades.
According to US News & World Report, construction trades had the largest percentage increase in enrollment at four-year institutions over the last year. A new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center indicated that national undergraduate enrollment in trades grew 26 percent, from 7,659 in spring 2016, to nearly 10,000 this spring.
In this case, construction trades include subjects from carpentry to management.
Though the rise is small (US News points out that 1.5 million undergraduates studied in business programs in 2017), institutions are giving more attention to construction classes.
There were 60 baccalaureate degree programs for construction management that were accredited by the ACCE in 2006; by the 2015-2016 school year, there were 73 accredited programs. … At University of Washington, which has an accredited program, construction management students take courses in physics, business law and accounting, among other subjects.
Advertisement
Related Stories
New-Home Sales
Mortgage Rates Are Up but New-Home Sales Still Solid in March
Lack of existing home inventory drove a rise in new-home sales, despite higher interest rates in March
Labor + Trade Relations
Who's Earning What in Construction
Workers in construction management roles may earn a higher median wage, but on average, lower-paid occupations have experienced somewhat faster wage growth
Build to Rent
Build-to-Rent Is Booming, Particularly in These Metros
A recent report finds that the Phoenix metro leads with more than 4,000 build-to-rent units completed in 2023, and Texas is the leading state for build-to-rent development
