The availability of affordable yet well-maintained housing has become a perennial issue in New Hampshire communities and in the New Hampshire Legislature.
While local and state policies and programs may open pathways to increased housing opportunities, policies alone won’t create new housing or keep existing homes in safe and livable condition. It takes people with specialized skills to do the work.
In New Hampshire and nationwide, numerous organizations and employers have noted shortages of professionals in the building and restoration trades. The impacts of these shortages could be major:
Recent research spearheaded by the New Hampshire-based organization Bring Back the Trades Inc. (BBTT) indicates that, by 2030, the U.S. may face a $325 billion annual economic loss if job shortages in the skilled trades are left unfilled.
According to Shana Brunye, BBTT’s chief operating officer and research director, “the trades are facing a ‘perfect storm’ of an aging workforce and rising demand.”
While individuals and families seek housing options, community organizations such as downtown business alliances and historical associations are striving to upkeep older buildings that give cities and towns their unique identities and sense of place.
Research from the University of New Hampshire on youth retention suggests that early exposure to available career pathways can be an important component of whether youth feel encouraged to stay in the state after graduation. With one of the oldest median ages in the nation, youth retention is a critical consideration of workforce development in New Hampshire.
Bring Back the Trades aims to address these concerns by reaching students directly through job fairs and scholarships.
Similarly, the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance is also working to champion trades careers by directly engaging young people.
These organizations’ priorities and strategies have been informed by continual collaborations with trades professionals, as well as data from specialized research. Bring Back the Trades’ recently published report offers valuable data to fuel advocacy and outreach efforts.
In 2023, the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, along with the Northeast Regional Initiative for the Preservation Trades, worked with University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Community and Economic Development researchers to better understand the region’s preservation trades workforce shortfalls and opportunities for expansion.
These studies collectively illustrate that we’re in an important moment for the trades. As society faces widespread concerns about how AI may replace many types of jobs, the modern digital era may also trigger revived interest in the benefits of trades career paths.
The building trades offer opportunities for hands-on work with tangible outcomes that provide a daily sense of accomplishment. On-site work can mean spending time in fresh air, seeing different parts of the state, and working alongside a variety of other skilled professionals. In the preservation trades research, 96% of tradespeople reported job satisfaction.
The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance is currently in their third year of hosting Career Exploration weeks, mentored mini-internships offered during winter and spring school breaks. The organizers have seen a steady increase in applications and inquiries. Youth applicants to the Career Exploration weeks have been drawn to the program for a variety of reasons, including interests in saving historic buildings, exploring new outlets for creativity, and finding alternatives to desk jobs.
On March 14 and 15 in Manchester, the Old House and Barn Expo will bring together homeowners, tradespeople and career seekers. Next, on April 18, Bring Back the Trades will welcome students to the 2026 NH Skills Expo in Londonderry, where a variety of employers will be ready to share information about their lines of work.
Bring Back the Trades’ Brunye shares that through BBTT’s advocacy work, their organization is “starting to see a shift in how students and parents view these careers — they are seeing the stability, the high pay and the chance to build something real.”
One thing that is clear to both organizations is that the building and restoration trades can appeal to a broad range of people and interests. These trades can engage individuals’ passions for history, art, community engagement, physical activity, teamwork, the outdoors, math, engineering and much more.
For more information about these organizations and their upcoming expos, visit: www.nhpreservation.org/old-house-barnexpo and bringbackthetrades.org/events/.
Jada Lindblom is economic development state specialist at the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension.