Building the Future: The Next Generation of Skilled Trades

As the home building industry continues to face one of the most significant labor shortages in decades, we are highlighting rising leaders like Ethan Beliveau, who are building the future of the skilled trades.

Ethan’s journey offers an example of what the industry needs, as detailed in the Home Builders Institute’s June 2025 Labor Market Report, which reveals a shortfall of 19,000 homes that did not get built in 2024. Influenced by his family background, Ethan entered the industry at 16, choosing hands-on carpentry over an engineering track and eventually graduating from Virginia Tech. Now 25, he serves as a project manager and estimator in his family’s residential construction business, Slate Creek Builders, after gaining experience with Holder Construction on commercial projects exceeding $500 million in value.

His preference for residential construction speaks to one of the key takeaways from HBI’s Denver Study: workers are more likely to remain in the industry when they find fulfillment in the craftsmanship and client connection that residential work often offers. Ethan works best in environments where quality matters and his work directly impacts families.

This pride in tangible results and the diversity of roles available in the trades directly counters the perception that many young people still view construction as limited in opportunity. Ethan, however, argues that the industry offers financial and personal rewards on par with many traditional college paths.

Ethan also challenges conventional hiring wisdom. “Three years ago, I would’ve said a degree was necessary. But today, internships and hands-on experience are far more valuable in this industry,” he notes. That perspective aligns with HBI’s findings, which recommend expanding on-the-job training and apprenticeship models to attract and retain young talent.

Looking ahead, Ethan sees promise in the integration of AI and digital tools to improve construction efficiency, but emphasizes that technology will complement rather than replace the human skills that make construction fulfilling. With aging infrastructure and a persistent housing shortage, he believes demand will remain strong for adaptable, tech-savvy professionals who are ready to build.