Navigating labor shortages and compliance pressures

RCS Influencer Tammy Hall says we can protect the future of roofing by investing in people.

The roofing industry is at a turning point. We’re all feeling the pressure of labor shortages, and at the same time, compliance requirements keep getting more complex. Safety, training, documentation, workforce verification — it’s a lot. But I don’t see these as separate problems. They’re connected, and if we approach them the right way, they can strengthen our industry instead of holding it back. 

For a long time, roofing has relied on strong on-the-job training and mentorship. That built incredible craftsmen. But today’s workforce is different. People want structure. They want to know what their future looks like. They want credentials that mean something and skills that are recognized beyond one job site. Contractors want the same thing: Consistency, accountability and a workforce that naturally aligns with compliance expectations. 

This is where I want to share something I’ve become deeply invested in and continue to learn more about as we help bring it to life — the National Roofing Apprenticeship Program (NRAP). I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside Steve Little from KPost and Tony Rader from NRP as we develop and prepare for its launch, and what has impressed me most is that NRAP isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s about connecting what already works across our industry and creating a clearer, more unified path forward for training, development and long-term workforce stability. 

The pipeline starts with SkillsUSA, introducing students to roofing and construction at the high school level. NRAP becomes the middle bridge, turning interest into a real career through a structured, DOL and state-recognized apprenticeship. From there, workers continue growing through NRCA TRAC and ProCertification, vocational programs and higher education. That’s a real career ladder and our industry needs that story. 

What makes NRAP powerful is that it brings together proven systems: 

• NCCER curriculum, updated, bilingual and nationally recognized 
• ABC’s training network, with facilities and instructors already in place 
• NRCA’s education platforms, which set the standard for roofing training 
• SkillsUSA, creating early engagement and pride in the trades 
• Clemson’s collaboration framework, adding academic support and research 

NRAP is the connective tissue. It doesn’t compete with these programs. It aligns them so they work better together. 

From a labor standpoint, this changes everything. People stay when they see opportunity. When roofing looks like a profession with progression, not just a job, retention improves and recruiting becomes easier. 

From a compliance standpoint, it simplifies life. Training, safety, credentials and documentation become part of how we operate every day instead of something we scramble to prove after the fact. 

Even the governance reflects this mindset, with leadership from the Roofing Alliance, NRCA, ABC, CTE partners, CEF, SkillsUSA and NCCER. That tells you this is industry-driven, not theoretical. 

I truly believe this is how we protect the future of roofing. By investing in people, connecting what already works and showing the next generation that roofing is a skilled, respected and sustainable career.