A joint study by The Home Depot Foundation and Morning Consult surveyed 6,348 U.S. adults between Nov. 26 and Dec. 17, 2025, finding that 60% of professional contractors working on disaster recovery projects report difficulty hiring qualified tradespeople. Nearly 60% of respondents lack full confidence in their community’s ability to rebuild swiftly, while 52% of those currently rebuilding after a natural disaster say recovery has taken longer than expected. With 40% of the construction workforce projected to retire by 2031, regions such as Los Angeles, Texas and North Carolina report long-term recovery challenges, underscoring an economic lag tied directly to the shrinking talent pool.

To address the gap, The Home Depot Foundation will expand its Path to Pro Education Grants in 2026 from Southern California wildfire zones to all 50 states. This initiative will enable K-12 schools, community colleges, technical institutes and nonprofit trainers to purchase equipment, remodel training spaces and support students pursuing skilled-trades careers. In 2025 the Foundation committed $3 million to Southern California wildfire recovery scholarships—$2,500 each to more than 70 students within 60 miles of Los Angeles—and has awarded hundreds more nationally through its ongoing scholarship program.

Since launching Path to Pro in 2018 with a $50 million pledge, the Foundation has forged a $1 million pilot partnership with Team Rubicon to credential veterans and volunteers via Home Builders Institute’s PACT program, creating a mobile corps of skilled rebuilders. To date, The Home Depot Foundation has invested over $650 million in veteran causes and aims to reach $750 million by 2030, alongside a $50 million commitment to train the next generation of skilled tradespeople by 2028.