Survey Finds Skilled Labor Shortage Slows Disaster Rebuilds; Home Depot Expands Training

A shortage of qualified construction and trades workers is slowing post-disaster rebuilding, according to new survey research that prompted The Home Depot Foundation to expand its Path to Pro workforce initiatives. The findings underscore persistent gaps that can delay recovery even where funding exists, with implications for store operations, pro customers, and hourly associates.

Nearly 60% of Americans reported they do not have high confidence that their community can rebuild quickly after a major disaster. Among professional contractors who had worked on disaster-recovery projects, about 60% cited challenges hiring qualified skilled labor for rebuilding work. Roughly 36% of adults said their community had been affected by a natural disaster in the prior five years, and more than half of those who had rebuilt said recovery took longer than expected. The release also cited an industry trend that as much as 40% of the current construction workforce may retire by 2031, intensifying the shortage.

The survey was conducted online by Morning Consult on behalf of The Home Depot Foundation between Nov. 26 and Dec. 17, 2025, with a sample of 6,348 U.S. adults. In response, the Foundation said it will scale Path to Pro beyond earlier pilot efforts, moving education grants to a national footprint, continuing scholarships in regions affected by recent wildfires, and launching a $1 million partnership pilot with Team Rubicon to create a mobile, credentialed volunteer workforce of veterans and others with industry-recognized credentials.

Path to Pro is presented as a broad effort that combines training, scholarships, equipment grants, job-placement resources, and a Path to Pro Network intended to increase the pipeline of qualified trades workers available for community rebuilding and general construction demand. The Foundation frames the expansion as both community service and an investment in the future labor pool for the trades.

For Home Depot associates and local stores, the shift could affect hiring and daily operations. An expanded pipeline of credentialed workers may increase demand for trained hourly and skilled associates such as installers, warehouse staff, and pro services teams, and could create new partnerships and recruiting events for local stores and distribution centers. The credentialing pilot and scholarship programs also open potential upskilling pathways for veterans, community college students, and other non-store recruits who could enter installation, logistics, and pro-service roles.

Operationally, success at scale could change local labor availability and contractor networks, with downstream effects on scheduling, installation timelines, training requirements, and quality oversight. Stores that serve pro customers may see faster job fulfillment in markets where Path to Pro boosts the supply of certified tradespeople.

If Path to Pro expands as described, associates should expect more local hiring activity and new training partnerships in the months ahead. For workers and managers, the initiative offers a chance to shore up the skilled-labor pipeline that communities and pro customers rely on during disaster recovery and everyday construction work.