Kitchen & Bath Business/KBIS January/February 2022 - 32

INDUS TR Y
OUTL OOK
Ed Brady, HBI's president, says there is no overnight
solution to the skilled labor shortage, but the goal is for
infl uencers in our industry to change the mindset about
this career path and how valuable it can be.
OVERALL EMPLOYMENT AND
SKILLED LABOR SHORTAGE STATUS
In a recent report from the Home Builders Institute
(HBI) and the NAHB, 740,000 people
would need to be hired by the construction and
remodeling industry each year for the next four
years to fulfi ll demand. Th is is because of myriad
reasons, including a good portion of the workforce
retiring and non-residential infrastructure recruiting
workers, so there are many opportunities for
workers to join our industry.
" According to the most recently released data
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are
345,000 unfi lled construction jobs in the U.S. -
signifi cantly higher than the 261,000 recorded a
year ago, " said Darcy.
Ed Brady, HBI's president, says there is no overnight
solution to the skilled labor shortage, but the
goal is for infl uencers in our industry to change the
mindset about this career path and how valuable it
can be. He admits that the pandemic has had an adverse
impact on the hands-on training his organization
provides, limiting programs and closing schools.
" Th e positive side is that we have been innovative
with online access to simulations, but the administration
needs to concentrate on pre-apprenticeships,
apprenticeships and introducing trades
to a larger group, " he added. " Our high-demand
market will eventually stabilize, though, which
will alleviate some of the pressure, but it will take
some time to repopulate the generation we have
lost over the last 20 years. "
Th e good news is that there is a lot of money
and time being invested in solving this ongoing
challenge, as industry associations like NKBA,
HBI and NAHB provide more skills-building
programs and apprenticeships.
" For the last fi ve years, the skilled labor shortage
has been top of mind, and we are seeing a lot of
positive movement, " said Chris Egner, president
of the National Association of the Remodeling
Industry (NARI). " Some associations have gone
as far as to lobby congress to fund more schools
for the trades, and various chapters are involved
with schools to promote the trades and provide
training, which is making a big diff erence. "

UPCOMING DESIGN AND PRODUCT TRENDS
" We are now looking at homes as more
than just traditional spaces. A lot revolves
around spending more time there, which
includes outdoor living spaces. I have
also had more requests for the wife or
husband to have their own areas. "
EGNER, NARI
" Demand for spaces that nurture different
needs - home gyms, offi ces, schooling areas
- and duality of use of residential spaces will
continue and expand. Connecting to our
senses will also become more important as
we look to design for the future. "
NOBLE, ASID
" According to NKBA's 2022 Design Trends research, kitchens in the coming years will be
primarily inspired by nature - warmer hues, lighter wood grains and increased natural light.
Hotel and resort infl uences are having the most signifi cant impact on emerging bathroom
design trends, as are design elements that promote healing and wellness. "
DARCY, NKBA
32
/ JAN.-FEB. 2022

Kitchen & Bath Business/KBIS January/February 2022

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