More than 500,000 new apartment units were completed across the United States in 2024, and this year shows signs of growth in the home building industry. New residential construction rose 1.6% in April to an annualized rate of 1.36 million homes — with a 10.7% jump in multifamily homes leading the charge.^1,2

Owning a home is a sign of financial success for 52% of Americans, according to Empower research. With some investors prioritizing real estate in 2025, jobs related to home building could be an opening for workers looking to make a career change.

Housing landscape is shifting

Existing home prices have been climbing for seven straight quarters, increasing more than 3% from the same time last year. That comes just as new construction prices have fallen — declining year-over-year for eight consecutive quarters.³

In April, the median sales price of new houses sold ($407,200) was below the median existing-home price for all housing types ($414,000).^4,5 Potential home buyers who are price sensitive could have both types of homes on their radar.

People buying or selling existing homes may also need home professionals to maintain America’s aging housing stock. In the U.S., the typical owner-occupied home was built 40 years ago, up from 36 years in 2014.⁶ Keeping the elements out can be a hefty expense: Replacing an asphalt roof cost more than $30,000 on average last year, and the typical roof lasts around 20 years.⁷

Read more: Renovation rebound: Home remodeling is on the rise

Seeking more home pros

Construction services has ranked as one of the top college majors for finding a job, given a low unemployment rate of 0.7%. There’s also room to grow in the career after the entry-level layer, as construction services has a mid-career median salary of $100,000.⁸

Some workers can be tapped for work even before a college search. Skilled trades have found new hires in unexpected places like high-school shop classes — making offers for jobs around $70,000 even before graduation.⁹

As Baby Boomers reach retirement age, companies that fuel home building see the need to replace workers. Several related career paths were projected to see growth in employment between 2023 and 2033 — with some not requiring a college degree to get started:^{10,11,12,13,14,15}

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Picking a strong career path can be especially important for those earlier in their professional lives. Empower research found that 71% of Gen Zers believe they’ll achieve financial success in their lifetime — and embracing a craft with good prospects for growth could help in the journey.

Read more: Investing in Yourself: Think like a CEO

Retail bets on contractor market

Ongoing updates around U.S. tariffs have brought questions around home improvement expenses, and retailers have been pushing investments toward the contractor and builder spaces, targeting future spending outside of DIYers.

In April, Lowe’s acquired Artisan Design Group for $1.3 billion to better engage the home professional market — tapping the provider’s network of more than 3,200 installers, single-family and multifamily builders, and property managers.¹⁶ Home Depot made a similar move in 2024 when it spent more than $18 billion to acquire SRS Distribution, which specializes in selling supplies to roofers, landscapers, and pool professionals.¹⁷

Staying grounded

More than two in five Americans are searching for ways to make more money in 2025, according to an Empower study. Given industry shifts and potential job growth, making the next career move related to home building could fit the bill.