One year after the Los Angeles wildfires, a new study from The Home Depot Foundation and Morning Consult points to a significant shortage of skilled construction workers as a major challenge in disaster recovery. The research indicates that nearly 60% of Americans do not feel confident their communities can rebuild quickly after disasters, and many professional contractors involved in such projects say finding qualified labor is their biggest obstacle.
The study notes that with 40% of the current construction workforce expected to retire by 2031, there will be further strain on efforts to rebuild in disaster-hit areas. This trend underscores the importance of initiatives like The Home Depot Foundation’s Path to Pro program, which aims to provide accessible career pathways in the construction trades.
Key findings include that 36% of U.S. adults say their communities have experienced a natural disaster in the past five years. Of those rebuilding, more than half believe recovery has taken longer than they expected. In disaster-impacted regions such as Los Angeles, Texas, North Carolina, Tampa (Florida), Ohio, and Kentucky, 78% report difficulties with long-term recovery and rebuilding. Among professional contractors surveyed, more than half reported challenges hiring skilled labor; this figure rises to 60% for those working on disaster recovery projects.
“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 labor being one of the primary issues,” said Erin Izen, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. “Our Path to Pro program will help ensure the workforce is there to meet the demand when a community is rebuilding what they’ve lost.”
To address these challenges, The Home Depot Foundation plans several expansions for its Path to Pro workforce development efforts. In 2026, its Education Grants program—which has supported Southern California wildfire recovery—will extend nationwide so K-12 schools, community colleges, technical colleges, and nonprofits across all states can purchase equipment or update training spaces for students entering skilled trades.
The Foundation also continues its partnership with SkillPointe Foundation through Path to Pro Scholarships for students within 60 miles of Los Angeles who are pursuing post-secondary education in construction fields; each scholarship awards $2,500. Over 70 scholarships have been granted locally so far.
Additionally, through a $1 million collaboration with Team Rubicon, The Home Depot Foundation supports a pilot workforce development project offering veterans and other volunteers industry-recognized credentials via Home Builders Institute’s PACT program. This creates mobile teams ready to assist with housing stabilization after disasters.
“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, vice president of Workforce Development for Team Rubicon. “Investing in skilled trades training alongside partners like The Home Depot Foundation is essential for building both strong communities and storm-resistant housing.”
Launched in 2018 with a $50 million commitment from The Home Depot Foundation to train future skilled tradespeople and address labor shortages nationally, Path to Pro offers free certification programs through nonprofit partnerships as well as job placement support via its Path to Pro Network.
The survey referenced was conducted online by Morning Consult between November 26 and December 17, 2025 among over 6,300 U.S. adults.
The Home Depot Foundation reports having invested more than $650 million since 2011 into veteran causes—including improvements for over 70,000 veteran homes—and aims to increase that investment to $750 million by 2030 while committing $50 million toward skilled trade training through Path to Pro by 2028.
