As the workforce development needs of the roofing industry become ever more challenging, NRCA continues working to advance policies aimed at strengthening and expanding career and technical education. Substantial progress in this endeavor has been made in recent years, but more efforts are needed to better address the industry’s essential workforce demands.
NRCA’s efforts to expand CTE opportunities for employers have been an increasing focus during the past decade. Beginning in 2015, NRCA helped lead efforts to advance the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, bipartisan legislation to improve and expand CTE programs operating under the federal Carl D. Perkins law. This legislation expanded authorized funding and contained numerous reforms aimed at improving work-based training and career programs. This critical legislation was a key advocacy focus during Roofing Day in D.C. in 2018, and the bill was enacted into law by Congress later that year.
An early success
Passage of this legislation has contributed significantly to the growth of CTE in recent years as implementation of the law has facilitated more effective collaboration between employers and educational institutions in the development and expansion of workforce programs.
For example, the National Student Clearinghouse, a nonprofit organization that provides data to support the education and workforce communities, indicates there was a 16% increase in trade school enrollment in 2024, a record high since the organization began collecting data in 2018. Given this positive trend, it will be critical for secondary and post-secondary schools to obtain continued support and investment to keep up with growing demand for workforce development programs, especially in an era of rapid technological innovation.
A key component of the 2018 law authorizes increased levels of funding for Perkins State Grants, which are distributed among all 50 states according to population and other factors to be used for programs that provide students with opportunities needed to close the skills gap in today’s workforce. Perkins State Grants provide funding for CTE programs that prepare students for careers in growing industries, and employers rely on these programs to develop talent with the technical skills needed in the current workforce. Without well-funded Perkins State Grants, many local training pipelines would shrink or disappear because of lack of support and investment.
NRCA’s efforts to expand CTE opportunities for employers have been an increasing focus during the past decade
A call for funding
This increased authorization funding level is important because investment in CTE had not been keeping pace with inflation for many years. Although the law provides the maximum authorization of federal funding for Perkins State Grants on a multiyear basis, the actual funding must be allocated through the congressional appropriations process annually. Lawmakers in Congress must decide each year where to invest limited federal resources in an arena with many competing needs and priorities.
In recent years, NRCA has made it a top priority to support increased funding for Perkins State Grants to maximize CTE opportunities for members, and in working with allied partners organizations, NRCA has been successful in a difficult budgetary environment. During the past six years, Congress has appropriated more than $300 million in additional funding for Perkins State Grants, bringing total funding to more than $1.4 billion. This increase is a good start, but to continue developing CTE programs to meet current and future workforce needs, Congress should place a higher priority on funding for Perkins State Grants.
Advocacy efforts needed to support greater investment in CTE are more important than ever because, as the federal government’s fiscal imbalances continue to deteriorate, there is growing pressure on lawmakers to cut spending in certain programs in an attempt to reduce budget deficits. The roofing industry needs to continue making the case to Congress for increased investment in CTE over competing requests.
Advocate
Given the importance of this issue to the roofing industry, participants in Roofing Day in D.C. 2026, which will be held April 14 and 15, will again be advocating for robust funding for Perkins State Grants with the message that such funding is now more important than ever. This event is perfectly timed for roofing industry professionals to advocate for increased investment in CTE as the annual appropriations process for fiscal year 2027 begins this spring.
Participants will convey the importance of greater investment in CTE for their companies as educational programs and training systems continually evolve. There also will be additional opportunities for NRCA members to contact their senators and representatives in support of CTE as Congress considers appropriations legislation later this year.
NRCA believes strong investments in Perkins State Grants are critical to the continued success of the CTE reform law passed in 2018. This funding is essential to secondary schools, community colleges, small businesses and the students who need the training and career support to succeed in the workforce. A positive sign Congress will be receptive to our message occurred during a recent hearing of the House Education and Workforce Committee in which lawmakers from both political parties spoke of their support for expanded CTE to better address workforce needs.
As roofing industry employers continue to struggle to find qualified candidates for well-paying, family-sustaining jobs, NRCA will continue working to increase investments in CTE.
DUANE L. MUSSER
Vice president of government relations in Washington, D.C.
NRCA
