Las Vegas home prices tied to worker shortage: Builders look to trades education for relief
LAS VEGAS, NV — While rising material and land costs are often blamed for Las Vegas’ high home prices, local builders say another major factor is being overlooked: a lack of skilled workers. As demand for new homes continues to rise across the valley, a shortage in the construction workforce is slowing down projects, increasing costs, and putting pressure on buyers.
How workforce shortages affect home prices
According to builders and industry leaders, delays in home construction caused by labor shortages are driving up costs significantly. Projects take longer, overhead increases, and buyers end up footing the bill.
“We lost 19,000 homes last year alone due to labor shortages,” said Sam Gilboard, Director at the National Association of Home Builders, during a Southern Nevada Home Builders Association (SNHBA) meeting held Monday. “And because of those shortages, the average construction timeline has been extended by about two months.”
Gilboard estimates those two-month delays led to approximately $2 billion in carrying costs nationally — added expenses that builders pass on to homebuyers. He also noted that there are about 200,000 open construction jobs across the country at any given time.
Local voices see the issue firsthand
Trenton Holthaus, a local homebuyer and trade school graduate, says he noticed modest price increases when he and his wife were searching for their new home.
“A little bit higher prices,” Holthaus noted. “I would love to see 20-year-olds, 19-year-olds, 18-year-olds out in the trades. I have a lot of good knowledge because of trade school, and I can do things on my own home because of it.”
Holthaus’ story reflects a broader concern: not enough young people are entering the skilled trades to replace aging workers. Builders worry the problem will only get worse unless local solutions are implemented.
Education as a long-term solution
To address the gap, the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association is supporting efforts to build a pipeline of new trades professionals. One of their most promising initiatives is the Southern Nevada Trades High School — a hands-on educational program designed to give teenagers real-world experience in the building industry.
“One of the things that we’re so proud of is the start of the Southern Nevada Trades High School,” said Nicole Bloom, SNHBA board member and Division President for Richmond American Homes. “The main focus is to bring young kids into the workforce here in Southern Nevada.”
Now in its second year, the program has 87 students enrolled — including 44 girls — a strong signal that interest in construction careers is growing across demographics.
Hope for the future of homebuilding
Valley builders remain hopeful that programs like the trades high school will help replenish the workforce and, in turn, stabilize or even lower housing prices over time. With a booming housing market and growing demand, the need for skilled labor has never been more urgent.
As Southern Nevada continues to expand, industry leaders are calling on local communities, educators, and policymakers to invest in the future of trades education — not only to support the economy, but to help make housing more affordable for the next generation of Las Vegas homeowners.
Image Source: https://www.ktnv.com/news/addressing-home-price-issues-how-the-workforce-impacts-costs-in-the-las-vegas-valley
Category: Business, Real Estate
Subcategory: Economic Impact
Date: 07/01/2025
