Groundworks Aims To Train 5,000 Trade Frontliners To Meet Repair Crisis

Groundworks, a large foundation repair and water management contractor, plans to create 5,000 skilled trades jobs over the next five years as demand for structural and moisture remediation grows across the aging U.S. housing stock, the company said.

The Virginia Beach, Virginia-based firm, which operates 84 offices across the U.S. and Canada, called the initiative the largest workforce expansion in its history. The jobs push follows a roughly $31 million dividend the company paid in January to nearly 5,000 employee-owners, with payouts ranging from two to four weeks of pay based on tenure, according to the announcement.

Groundworks framed the move as both a growth strategy and a response to mounting repair needs in existing homes. More than 1.5 million homeowners have received repairs from the Groundworks family of brands since 1972, the company said, citing increasing structural and water-intrusion challenges in older housing.

For residential builders, developers and investors, the program is another signal that labor capacity on the repair, retrofit and resilience side of the business is likely to expand faster than on new construction, where skilled trade shortages remain acute. Foundation and water management contractors sit at the intersection of structural performance, risk management and long-term asset value, particularly for aging single-family and small multifamily properties.

Groundworks said it is targeting high school graduates, career changers, military veterans, women and other candidates from nontraditional backgrounds, positioning the roles as an alternative to four-year college. The company said it offers on-the-job training, formal development programs and advancement paths that can move field employees into leadership roles quickly.

According to the company, foreman positions can average about $92,000 in annual pay after one year in the role, depending on performance and market, and nearly 1,000 of the 5,000 new positions are slated as leadership jobs. The expansion will extend across existing markets and new geographies as the company continues its acquisition and de novo growth strategy.

“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, said in the release. “We give every employee ownership in our success, and we’re proving the trades can offer real careers with real rewards. That’s what sets us apart.”

Groundworks has also been working with television host Mike Rowe on a content series, “Go Below with Rowe,” aimed at elevating the profile of trades work and addressing the perception gap that has steered many high school graduates away from construction and repair careers.

“Groundworks is growing at a time when a lot of companies are pulling back,” Rowe said. “But it’s not just that they’re growing — it’s how. They’re giving folks a real stake in the outcome. Not just creating jobs but building leaders. Anyone willing to show up, learn a skill, and take pride in their work gets a chance to own their success.”

The pledge comes as remodelers, foundation contractors and structural repair firms report strong pipelines tied to deferred maintenance, more intense weather events and investor interest in stabilizing and upgrading older single-family rentals. For owners of large portfolios of aging homes, local access to trained foundation and water-management crews is increasingly a factor in hold-versus-sell and capex-planning decisions.

Groundworks did not provide a detailed geographic breakdown of the planned 5,000 jobs, but said new roles and advancement opportunities will be created “over the next five years in both current and new locations.”

“This commitment is about investing in people who will be critical to that growth,” Malone said. “We’re looking for men and women who want to build careers and make an impact in their communities.”

For homebuilding and residential development executives, the move underscores a broader labor-market shift: while many production builders continue to struggle with subcontractor availability, some specialty contractors are using ownership models, accelerated advancement and structured training to differentiate themselves in the competition for frontline talent.

To learn more about the program or apply for a position, candidates are directed to www.groundworks.com/skilled-trades/.

About Groundworks

Founded through the consolidation of regional brands, Groundworks describes itself as North America’s leading foundation repair and water management solutions company. The nine-time Inc. 5000 honoree operates 84 offices across the U.S. and Canada and says its brands have served more than 1 million homeowners. More information is available at www.groundworks.com.