2027 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Housing
Feb. 17, 2027 | NC State McKimmon Center, Raleigh
The 2027 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Housing is the third and final installment in the Institute for Emerging Issues’ three-year forum series: Future Forward Infrastructure.
The Challenge
As North Carolina’s population continues to grow, the state’s housing affordability, supply shortages and a shrinking skilled workforce pose challenges for meeting residents’ needs. Nationally, the United States faces a similar housing challenge.
Housing Affordability
The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported that nationally, both site-built and manufactured homes appreciated in value by more than 210 percent between 2000 and 2024. Meanwhile, the median household income in that same timeframe only grew by 16.6 percent.
Across North Carolina, 26.1 percent of residents are “cost burdened,” spending more than 30% of their annual income on housing expenses alone, with rural communities and Eastern NC most heavily impacted.
Housing Supply
Several organizations have produced estimates of the national housing shortfall. The Zillow Group reports that the national housing shortage rose to 4.7 million units in 2025 and continues to grow. Harvard University reports that a projected 19.3 million new housing units will need to be completed between 2025 and 2045 to keep up with rising demand. Yet, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, new projects are at a multi-year low. Housing starts in December 2025 were 7.3 percent below those in December 2024.
Shortage of Skilled Workers
Homebuilding requires skilled workers, including electricians, painters, plumbers, carpenters, architects and more. Across the country, these workers are retiring in large numbers. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the median age of a NAHB member homebuilder in 2024 was 58, and only three percent were younger than 34.
North Carolina already faces a steep labor shortage, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce noting that our state has 76 available workers for every 100 open jobs. As the workforce shrinks, homebuilders must raise wages and housing costs to stay profitable and competitive.
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The Opportunity
The 2027 Emerging Issues Forum will focus on best practices and innovative solutions to address these concerns. Over the next year, the Institute for Emerging Issues at NC State University will work with state and local partners to examine solutions to the housing crisis. Through policy research and engagement with community and economic development partners, we will identify best practices and create draft recommendations to build a stronger housing infrastructure future for North Carolina.
