The concerns about workforce in the industry can’t be reiterated enough. They also can’t be ignored.
As
the average age of the roofing workforce across North America continues
to rise, and more baby boomers reach the edge of retirement, recruiting
and retaining the next generation of roofers is paramount for the
industry’s collective survival. Efforts to combat the problem are
underway. Training programs like the National Roofing Contractors
Association’s ProCertification initiative and others created either by
roofing contractors themselves or their partners in manufacturing and
distribution are positive steps. So too are the growing connections
between the roofing industry and skilled trades recruiting movement, and
more federal funding efforts for technical education programs across
the country.