Homes are going up faster in Central Florida than the workforce can keep pace. 

To meet that demand, construction classrooms in Lake and Sumter counties are training students who learn by doing.

Local educators acknowledge that not every teenager dreams of a four-year degree, that for many students, the trades offer something college can’t: a direct, practical path into a high-demand career.

Many students want a solid job right out of high school, while others seek a career in the trades or a construction management degree in college.

Future Builders of America (FBA), a statewide nonprofit that partners with schools and builder’s associations, provides a starting point. 

FBA Chair Cindy Hall says her organization introduces students to the industry through campus chapters, mentorships, scholarships and state and national competitions. Its four-day leadership summit takes students into real projects with industry professionals.

“The partnership between builders and students is what makes the program so effective,” she says. “I have so many students who ended up in successful careers because of their introduction to FBA.”

School administrators in both counties are clearly on board. 

Sumter County Schools Superintendent Logan Brown says the work speaks for itself. 

“Our Construction Academy is building more than structures,” Logan says. “It’s building future builders by giving students real-world skills, industry experience and a clear pathway to meaningful careers.”

“Through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity, our students are not only learning a trade, they are serving our community and we are extremely proud of their work.”

The partnership with Habitat is the engine behind much of the hands-on experience. Habitat for Humanity of Lake–Sumter invites students onto active build sites not to observe, but to work. 

President and CEO Danielle Stroud sees the impact daily.

“Hands-on programs like our Youth Construction Academy let students start building a career directly from high school,” she says. 

“Many of them are building affordable homes for their peers and get a glimpse of the housing need in their own community.”

Some students even go on to become Habitat homeowners themselves; a full-circle moment Danielle says never gets old.

Leesburg High School senior Evelyn Gonzalez has lived that impact. She joined the Construction Academy almost by accident, because she wanted to help repaint a community building. That led to earning a spot on the school’s competitive Dream Team, which helps to build Habitat homes. She also spent time last summer as an intern.

“I really enjoyed helping people in the community,” she says. “It wasn’t about money. It just felt good to do something that mattered.”

She credits Danielle for giving her confidence. 

“She made me feel like I belonged,” Evelyn says. “Construction is male-dominated, but more girls are coming in now. Having girls on the team builds trust and adds so much.”

Within the schools, the goal is to prepare students for the world they’re about to enter. 

Casey Ferguson, coordinator of CTE and Adult Education for Sumter County, says the results are clear. 

“Our students are learning hands-on skills that will help them become employed in a high-skill, high-demand, high-wage career after graduation,” Casey says. “I’m very excited about the great things happening in our trades programs and grateful to the industry partners who help make them successful.”

Lake County shares the same philosophy. Program Specialist Lynnea Strickler says the work is about expanding options. 

“Hands-on learning builds confidence, and industry partnerships give students experiences they can’t get in a classroom,” she says.

Interest is growing rapidly, especially at Leesburg High, where the construction academy has expanded from a small effort into a competitive program with limited spots. Students see the value, and employers do too.

At Wildwood Middle High, instructor Jerry Lipham switched from agriculture to construction because he saw a need. 

“We do pre-apprenticeship programs, and this year 24 students are enrolled,” he says. “They’ll go to a job fair in the spring and potentially get summer work with commercial contractors, HVAC, electricians or plumbers. A lot of them get hired by the same company after graduation.”

What stands out most is the transformation.

“They start with a slab of concrete, frame all the walls, put sheeting on and later come back to see drywall, electrical and plumbing going in,” Jerry says. “They can say, ‘I did that,’ and not just for a grade. I did that for a community member who’s going to live in this house.”

Wildwood senior Zydarius McCray already has a plan.

“I wanted an early job as soon as I came out of high school,” he says. “My teachers told me how many construction workers are about to retire and how the demand is high.”

“I’m going to use my construction job to pay for lineman school. But construction is a great backup too.”

At The Villages Charter School, instructor Bruce Haberle has witnessed the same growth. He retired from a long career as a general contractor in New Jersey but found he couldn’t walk away from the industry.

“By senior year, they’re serious,” Bruce says. “If they want to work, we can pretty much guarantee them a job in any trade right now.”

Students like Alistair Clark appreciate the teamwork and accomplishment.

“Every day you feel super accomplished,” he says. “You look back and think, wow, we built that. This whole thing was two days of work.”

Others carry the experience with them long after graduation. Kaden Perry, a Villages Charter graduate, completed Lake-Sumter State College’s lineman boot camp the same morning he visited the Habitat build site.

“Construction gave me the foundation to move into my dream job,” Kaden says. 

“We learned how to frame poles, build power lines, everything.”

With workforce shortages growing and industry partners stepping in, programs like the Youth Construction Academy are making a difference. Local CTE pathways and school-based construction academies are giving students real skills, real confidence and a clear line of sight to the jobs waiting for them after graduation.

As Florida continues to face a serious labor shortage in the trades, with tens of thousands of skilled workers nearing retirement, these programs are doing more than preparing the next generation. They’re giving students a place to start, a chance to contribute and the confidence to know they can. The skills matter, but the shift in how students see themselves may matter even more.

And all of them start in the same place: on a job site, learning by doing, building something real.

“You can see the joy on their faces when they discover something they’re good at,” Cindy (of FBA) says.

Florida workforce snapshot:

Trades in Demand

A quick look at the construction, skilled labor landscape and growth statistics in Florida, based on current data from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, CareerSource Florida, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook and Associated Builders and Contractors Workforce Development Report.

Photos: Provided