Take 5: Trades jobs, skills gap and housing action

NH Business Review's biweekly snapshot of business and industry statistics

BRING Back the Trades released a report in partnership with F.W. Webb Company that detailed how, by 2030, 25% of jobs in seven key trades will be vacant. Findings show how 1.4 million jobs will be empty, and nearly 25% of those roles will have no one to fill them. About $71 billion is expected to be lost in taxes as a result — funding residents rely on for local schools, roads and emergency services. The full report can be found at bringbackthetrades.org/research.

RESEARCH conducted by Robert Half found that, of the 2,000 U.S. hiring managers surveyed, only 6% say they have the talent to complete high-priority projects this year and may need to hire. More than half of respondents say their company plans to add permanent (60%) and contract (55%) roles early this year to close the skills gap and maintain flexibility in the workplace.

MORE U.S. workers are “job hugging” out of fear of losing their current role, according to a new ResumeBuilder.com survey. The percentage of workers who say they are job hugging (57%) has grown 12 percentage points since August 25 (45%), mostly driven by fear that AI will impact their job (70%) or layoffs will happen within the next six months (63%). Fifty-two percent of workers report working longer hours and taken less time off to maintain their roles.

HOUSING Action NH published findings from a statewide poll that shows broad public support for legislative action on housing costs and supply. The report shows that voters believe the Legislature should find solutions that help to build new affordable housing developments (75%), allow homes to be built on smaller lots (74%) and allow manufactured homes on individual lots (79%).

A recent survey of New Hampshire voters conducted by yes. every kid. shows they want more control over how and where their children receive a public education. Sixty-six percent of respondents say families should have more flexibility and options to tailor their child’s education, with 55% supporting last year’s expansion of the state’s Education Freedom Account (EFA) program to all children statewide.