Homeowners across the U.S. are currently facing rising costs and long wait times when hiring home service professionals. Plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, and repair workers are in short supply, resulting in a nationwide labor shortage. This shortage is driving up wages and shrinking the hiring pool, leaving many homeowners with fewer options. For those trying to protect their property from rising service costs and long wait times, a home warranty plan may help cover repairs and ease the burden.
But these plans aren’t a cure-all, as these delays stem from a deeper issue. The labor shortage is widespread — as of early 2024, there were more than 456,000 unfilled construction jobs, just shy of the record high of 488,000 in 2022. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an average of over 157,000 openings per year from 2023 to 2033 for general maintenance and repair workers alone.
To see where the labor crunch is hitting hardest, Today’s Homeowner analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the BLS. We looked at 381 metro areas and ranked them by the number of home service professionals per 1,000 households. We also tracked how those workforces have changed since 2021. Our findings show which U.S. cities struggle most, and where homeowners may still find fast, affordable help.
Key Statistics
There are only 57 home service workers for every 1,000 U.S. homeowners. This number has barely changed since 2021, even as labor availability remains a top concern for homeowners.
Immigrant workers make up 31% of the residential construction labor force, highlighting the industry’s significant reliance on foreign-born labor.
Workforce growth is slowing year over year. The number of new home service workers added annually has declined for three straight years — from 176,000 (2021–2022) to just under 100,000 (2023–2024).
Workers ages 25 and under represent about 11% of the construction workforce, a modest increase from 9% in 2015.
Finished carpentry faces a 65% labor shortage, making it one of the most strained trades among the 16 key specialties tracked in residential construction.
Only 37% of U.S. metro areas have above-average labor availability. The majority of metros fall below the national benchmark of 57 workers per 1,000 households.
Salisbury, Maryland, has lost more than 70% of its electrician and HVAC workforce since 2021. It’s the steepest decline among all metros in those trades.
Occupations such as maintenance and repair workers are projected to have over 157,000 openings per year from 2023 to 2033, mostly due to labor force exits and job changes.
Some trades are growing faster than others. Over the next decade, electricians are projected to increase by 11%, HVAC techs by 9%, and insulation workers by 4%. Drywall installers are expected to increase at just over 3%.
The Labor Shortage Behind Your Next Home Repair
Despite continued demand for services, the national supply of home service labor remains relatively flat. As of 2024, there are only 57 home service workers for every 1,000 owner-occupied households — a ratio that’s barely changed in three years.
While the number of home service workers has grown by 8% overall since 2021, the increase in new workers has slowed significantly in recent years. From 2021 to 2022, more than 176,000 workers were added to the labor force, but this dropped to just 99,250 new workers from 2023 to 2024.
Given this slowdown in growth, the number of home service workers is unlikely to meet the demand for repairs and maintenance services in the coming years. The home service labor force just isn’t expanding quickly enough to keep up with the increasing needs of homeowners.
Certain trades are growing faster than others, while some are facing declines. Insulation workers (+27%), electricians (+14%), and building inspectors (+16%) have seen significant industry growth between 2021 and 2024. On the other hand, occupations such as drywall installer (-15%) and woodworking machine operator (-6%) are losing workers.
One of the key specialties in residential construction, finished carpentry faces a 65% labor shortage, marking it as one of the most strained trades in the industry.
Amid these shortages, the U.S. home service sector relies heavily on immigrant labor, with foreign-born workers making up approximately 31% of the home service trades, according to the spring 2024 Construction Labor Market Report from the Home Builders Institute (HBI). However, recent immigration policy changes are heightening employer concerns over labor shortages. These changes could make it harder to fill essential roles, especially as demand for skilled home service workers rises.
At the same time, the industry has been increasingly attracting younger talent, potentially due to factors such as the high cost of college education, as well as construction’s competitive wages, job security, growth potential, and technological advances, according to the HBI. The share of construction workers who are 25 years old or under increased modestly from 9% in 2015 to 11% in 2022.
Where It’s Easiest and Hardest To Hire a Home Pro
Nationally, there are about 57 home service workers — such as electricians, plumbers, and contractors — for every 1,000 owner-occupied homes. But that national average obscures just how uneven access is: Only 37% of U.S. metro areas (140 out of 381) meet or exceed that staffing level.
Best-staffed metros are typically high-income, fast-growing, or seasonal markets. Worst-staffed metros often have fewer than half the national average contractors per homeowner, leading to higher costs, longer wait times, and fewer options for homeowners.
Some metros are thriving: Kahului-Wailuku, Hawaii, leads the nation with over 105 workers per 1,000 homes, followed by Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, California, and Naples-Marco Island, Florida — all high-demand, high-income markets where renovation and seasonal demand drive contractor density.
In contrast, areas such as Monroe, Michigan, and Hinesville, Georgia, have fewer than 26 home service workers per 1,000 homes, meaning homeowners in these communities may struggle the most with labor shortages and service delays.
Which Cities Are Gaining and Losing Skilled Labor Fastest
Although the national average number of home service workers per capita has stayed flat, some cities have experienced dramatic shifts in their trade labor force since 2021.
Atlantic City-Hammonton, New Jersey, saw the biggest growth, adding more than 2,500 workers, a 63% increase. Other substantial gains include Jackson, Tennessee (+56%); Wilmington, North Carolina (+52%); Athens-Clarke County, Georgia (+43%); and Alexandria, Louisiana (+42%). These metros may be attracting new workers through stronger training pipelines, cost-of-living advantages, or higher local demand for services.
By contrast, Salisbury, Maryland, lost more than 4,600 skilled home service workers over the same three-year period, dropping from 6,600 to just 1,910 — a sharp 71% decline. That’s the steepest workforce drop among all metros studied. Other cities saw troubling declines as well: Lewiston, Idaho-Washington (-25%); Weirton-Steubenville, West Virginia-Ohio (-19%); Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia-South Carolina (-18%); and Youngstown-Warren, Ohio (-17%), all lost hundreds of home service professionals.
Nationally, demand for electricians and HVAC technicians is projected to grow by 11% and 9%, respectively, through 2033. But in shrinking metros, the gap between labor needs and labor availability could grow even wider.
Where Each Trade Is Booming — and Where It’s Falling Behind
Some cities are rapidly gaining skilled home service workers, while others are seeing major losses. From 2021 to 2024, Alexandria, Louisiana, nearly tripled its number of electricians, while Salisbury, Maryland, lost 82% — the largest drop in any metro for that trade. HVAC technicians followed a similar pattern, with Clarksville, Tennessee-Kentucky, growing its workforce by 223%, and Salisbury again losing 82%. Tallahassee, Florida, more than doubled its construction inspectors, while Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma, lost over half.
Several midsize cities are leading the way in growth. Bend, Oregon, grew its woodworking machine operator workforce by nearly 290%, the largest increase in any trade. Glens Falls, New York, saw a 177% increase in painters, and pest control jobs in Gadsden, Alabama, jumped by 200%. In contrast, drywall workers plummeted in New Orleans-Metairie, Louisiana (-76%), and insulation workers decreased in Lafayette, Louisiana (-70%).
Overall, the labor landscape is becoming more uneven. Areas where trade employment is declining may face longer project timelines, increased costs, and a diminished capacity to meet housing demands, especially as demand for these occupations is projected to rise nationwide over the next decade.
Is the Trades Shortage Here To Stay? A 10-Year Outlook
With so many trades already seeing sharp employment swings from 2021 to 2024, it’s worth asking what the future holds. Looking ahead to 2033, BLS projections suggest modest growth in most home service occupations. Electricians are expected to grow by 11%, HVAC technicians by 9%, and plumbers by 6%.
But growth is only part of the story. Many trades will face far greater hiring needs due to workforce turnover. Maintenance and repair workers, for example, will have over 157,000 annual openings, despite just 5% projected growth from 2023 to 2033. Electricians are expected to see over 80,000 openings a year, mostly due to retirements or workers switching careers.
This trend plays out across nearly every trade:
- Maintenance and repair workers: over 157,000 job openings annually, even with just 5% projected growth
- Electricians: over 80,000 annual openings, mostly due to exits and transfers
- Roofers: only 9,800 new jobs by 2033, but 13,600 openings per year
- Pest control workers: 6.9% growth, but 13,100 openings annually
- Woodworking machine operators: expected to shrink by 2.2%, but still see over 6,000 openings a year
Exit rates are highest in inspection and maintenance roles, where staffing gaps could become critical. Construction and building inspectors have an annual average 6% exit rate between 2023 and 2033, and maintenance and repairs workers will see over 72,000 exits annually for the same decade.
Altogether, the next decade is less about booming growth and more about backfilling essential positions. The labor pipeline will need to work overtime just to keep these trades running.
How Homeowners Can Navigate the Trades Shortage
With fewer workers entering the trades and many nearing retirement, homeowners are already feeling the strain, especially when it comes to scheduling major repairs or upgrades. Here’s how to navigate the reality of a stretched workforce.
Plan Repairs and Renovations Early
In many parts of the country, electricians, HVAC techs, and roofers are booked months out. Whether you’re replacing your HVAC system or planning a new roof, expect longer timelines and higher prices than you might have seen a few years ago.
Vet Contractors Carefully
Skilled labor shortages can lead to more unlicensed or inexperienced workers entering the market. If you’re hiring for complex jobs, such as plumbing or electrical, it’s essential to ask for licenses and references. Price estimates can also help you gauge quality: these guides to plumber costs and electrician pricing can provide a helpful baseline.
Know Your Limits on DIY Projects
Painting a room or caulking a bathtub is one thing — electrical wiring or installing ductwork is another. While DIY may seem like a way to avoid long wait times, it often ends up costing more if you need a professional to fix mistakes. Save yourself the trouble by sticking to cosmetic upgrades and leaving the rest to certified pros.
Your City Matters More Than You Think
Not all metros are equally affected. Homeowners in cities with stable or growing trade workforces may enjoy better service availability and pricing. In places with steep workforce declines, expect tighter competition for contractors and higher demand during peak seasons. A little foresight, such as scheduling projects well in advance or maintaining long-term relationships with service providers, can go a long way.
Methodology
To determine where it’s hardest to hire a home service professional in 2024, Today’s Homeowner analyzed 381 U.S. metro areas using the most recent data available. We compared metros based on home service workers per 1,000 households. Data primarily comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and the Census Bureau’s 2023 1-year American Community Survey.
The three-year change in the number of home service workers compares total employment from 2021 to 2024 using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Data on projected occupational separations is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Colorado and Puerto Rico data was excluded from this analysis, due to reporting inconsistencies with BLS.
The occupations included in our definition of home service workers are as follows:
- Construction and building inspectors
- Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Electricians
- Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall
- Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Maintenance and repair workers, general
- Painters, construction and maintenance
- Pest control workers
- Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Roofers
- Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing
Questions about our study? Contact media@todayshomeowner.org.
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