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Groundworks plans 5,000 trades jobs for repair boom

Source: housingwire.com

TL;DR

Groundworks plans to create 5,000 skilled trades jobs over five years for foundation repair and water management.
Initiative includes nearly 1,000 leadership roles with foreman pay averaging $92,000 after one year.
Expansion targets nontraditional hires to meet repair demand from aging U.S. housing stock.

The story at a glance

Groundworks, a Virginia Beach-based foundation repair and water management company with 84 offices across the U.S. and Canada, announced plans to add 5,000 skilled trades jobs over the next five years. The move, its largest workforce expansion ever, comes from Matt Malone, founder and executive chairman, amid rising demand for fixes to older homes hit by deferred maintenance and weather. It follows a $31 million dividend paid in January to nearly 5,000 employee-owners.[[1]](https://www.housingwire.com/articles/groundworks-5000-skilled-trades-jobs-expansion-foundation-repair/)[[2]](https://www.housingwire.com/articles/groundworks-5000-skilled-trades-jobs-expansion-foundation-repair)

Key points

Targets high school graduates, career changers, military veterans, women, and other nontraditional candidates with on-the-job training and fast advancement paths as college alternatives.
Jobs will expand across current markets and new areas via acquisitions and new growth.
Company has served over 1.5 million homeowners since 1972 through its brands.
Employee-owned model offers ownership after six months, with recent payouts of two to four weeks' pay based on tenure.
Announcement made March 23, 2026; applications at www.groundworks.com/skilled-trades/.

Details and context

Groundworks cites surging needs for structural and moisture fixes in aging housing, worsened by weather events and investor focus on stabilizing single-family and small multifamily properties. The push contrasts with broader new construction labor shortages, positioning repair and retrofit firms for faster capacity growth. As an employee-owned firm partnered with KKR since 2023, it uses ownership and training to draw talent in a tight market.

This aligns with industry reports of ongoing skilled trade gaps, like those from Associated Builders and Contractors, projecting hundreds of thousands of openings yearly.[[3]](https://www.groundworks.com/resources/foundation-repair-skilled-trades)

Key quotes

“Our mission has always been to protect homes and the people who live in them. These 5,000 jobs mean homeowners across North America will have more access to the skilled professionals who can protect their greatest investment.” — Matt Malone, founder and executive chairman of Groundworks.[[1]](https://www.housingwire.com/articles/groundworks-5000-skilled-trades-jobs-expansion-foundation-repair/)

“Groundworks is growing at a time when a lot of companies are pulling back. But it’s not just that they’re growing — it’s how. They’re giving folks a real stake in the outcome.” — Mike Rowe, television host.[[1]](https://www.housingwire.com/articles/groundworks-5000-skilled-trades-jobs-expansion-foundation-repair/)

Why it matters

Aging U.S. housing stock drives urgent demand for foundation and water repairs, where skilled labor shortages slow responses to structural risks. Homeowners gain better access to trained pros, while job seekers from nontraditional paths find high-pay careers without college debt. Watch hiring progress and service expansion in new markets, though timelines depend on acquisitions and economic conditions.