For communities recovering from disasters, rebuilding takes more than volunteers and supplies. It takes skilled workers. Yet across the United States, the demand for qualified construction professionals continues to outpace supply, creating challenges for homeowners, contractors, and communities recovering from hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, floods, and other disasters. At the same time, resilient construction practices are becoming increasingly important as disasters grow more frequent and severe.
To help meet both needs, Team Rubicon, launched its Workforce Development program, in partnership with the Home Builders Institute, the nation’s leading nonprofit provider of residential construction training, to prepare participants for careers in the skilled trades while strengthening the nation’s ability to recover from future disasters.
The program offers free, hands-on training in resilient construction techniques, industry-recognized certifications, career coaching, and job placement assistance. It’s designed to create pathways into high-demand careers while helping build a workforce equipped to construct stronger, safer homes.
“The Workforce Development program is more than just skills training, it’s a pathway into a high-demand, well-paying industry that helps communities build long-term resilience,” said Team Rubicon CEO Jim Brooks.
A Workforce Development Program that Addresses a National Workforce Shortage
The United States continues to face a shortage of skilled trades professionals, particularly in residential construction. That shortage often becomes even more apparent after disasters, when communities compete for qualified contractors to repair damaged homes and critical infrastructure.
Team Rubicon’s Workforce Development program was created to help address this gap by preparing participants with practical, job-ready skills that employers need today.
The program combines classroom instruction with hands-on training in resilient building practices, including Fortified carpentry and roofing techniques designed to better protect homes from future natural hazards. Participants also earn OSHA-10 safety certification and receive individualized career counseling and job placement support at no cost.
The WFD program is open to the public, with a special invitation to Team Rubicon’s Greyshirt volunteers who are interested in pursuing careers in construction or expanding their existing skill sets.
From Pilot Program to National Initiative
The Workforce Development program launched as a pilot that ran from September 22 to November 21, 2025, at the Orlando HBI BuildStrong Academy. The pilot so successfully demonstrated how disaster recovery expertise and industry-leading construction education can work together to prepare participants for meaningful careers while supporting more resilient communities that it was followed by a second cohort in Orlando in December.
In February, the program expanded to New Orleans, where two more sessions have been completed. To date, 50 people have graduated from Team Rubicon’s Workforce Development programs.
How the Team Rubicon Workforce Development Program Strengthens Disaster Resilience
For Team Rubicon, workforce development is an extension of its mission to serve communities before, during, and after disasters.
The organization has long supported communities through emergency response, home repairs, and long-term recovery. The Workforce Development program expands that impact by helping develop the skilled workforce needed to rebuild communities faster—and better—after disasters strike.
Participants graduate with practical experience, nationally recognized credentials, and connections to employers hiring in one of the country’s fastest-growing industries. Communities benefit from a larger workforce trained in resilient construction methods that can reduce future disaster damage.
By investing in people today through the Team Rubicon Workforce Development Program, the organization is helping build the skilled workforce communities need to recover faster and become more resilient for years to come.
