PALO ALTO, Calif., May 1, 2025 — Lumber, a top-tier construction workforce management platform, has announced its acquisition of BuilderFax, a pioneering digital credential management service for craft professionals. By combining Lumber’s AI-driven workforce tools with BuilderFax’s specialized credential wallet, the companies are delivering an unprecedented solution aimed at resolving key labor challenges and boosting career advancement opportunities for skilled tradespeople.

This acquisition comes amid mounting concerns over the severe skilled labor shortages affecting the U.S. construction industry. According to FMI Corporation’s 2023 Labor Productivity Study, contractors in the U.S. lost an estimated $40 billion in 2022 due to inefficiencies in labor management. The integration of Lumber and BuilderFax seeks to directly confront these inefficiencies by providing real-time, verifiable workforce qualification data for employers, while offering craft workers free access to secure digital tools that help them organize and share their professional certifications.

“After 45 years in construction, I founded BuilderFax to give skilled craft workers ownership of their professional achievements and credentials,” said Kirk Samuelson, founder of BuilderFax and former Senior Vice President at Kiewit Corporation. “By joining Lumber's AI-powered platform, we're creating a comprehensive solution that helps companies operate efficiently while empowering workers to build sustainable careers. This integrated approach directly addresses our industry's pressing labor challenges by improving retention and reducing turnover across the construction sector.”

Shreesha Ramdas, CEO and Co-founder of Lumber, underscored how urgent this effort has become. “This acquisition comes at a critical moment for America's skilled workforce,” stated Ramdas. “The national shortage of electricians is threatening our infrastructure growth, and we see similar challenges across all construction trades. By combining our AI-powered platform with BuilderFax's credential management capabilities, we're streamlining workforce management and supporting a national imperative to develop, certify, and retain skilled trade workers who will literally build America's future. When credential management fails, workers lose jobs, and projects stall. Our integrated solution addresses this $12 billion problem while strengthening the career paths of craftspeople nationwide.”

What the Lumber-BuilderFax Integration Brings to the Industry

Empowering Craft Workers‍

The app will remain free for all craft workers, who will be able to manage digital versions of credentials that were once only available as paper documents scattered across multiple systems.

Strengthening the Labor Market‍

By simplifying hiring processes and ensuring regulatory compliance, the platform cuts down on delays and reduces administrative burdens. It also opens access to a larger pool of verified, skilled labor.

On-Site Experience Tracking‍

Employers can validate workers’ on-site experience, making it easier to assess workforce capabilities and align skills with project needs.

Reducing Administrative Load‍

By connecting credential data to time tracking, scheduling, and payroll, the platform boosts overall productivity.

Supporting Career Development‍

The integration includes tools such as resume builders, job boards tailored to union roles, and personalized training recommendations linked to a worker’s credentials.

Building Strategic Partnerships‍

New collaborations with vocational schools will allow the app to be preloaded on student devices, ensuring smooth career entry and certification tracking right from the start.

This strategic move further cements Lumber’s role as an innovation leader in construction workforce management. By unifying credentialing, artificial intelligence, and workforce oversight in one robust platform, Lumber is setting a new benchmark for how skilled labor is recognized, supported, and efficiently deployed across the industry.

About Lumber

‍Lumber is an all-in-one, AI-powered construction workforce management platform that streamlines key functions including payroll, time tracking, safety, compliance, field productivity, rewards, and recognition. Designed specifically for specialty contractors, Lumber’s customizable platform offers deep integration across the construction tech stack, with a strong focus on compliance and safety.

For more details, visit Lumber.

About BuilderFax

‍BuilderFax is a secure digital credential management platform designed for construction craft workers, enabling them to store, track, and share their certifications, training records, and qualifications. Founded by seasoned construction leader Kirk Samuelson, BuilderFax gives craft professionals greater control over their career development while providing employers with verified, up-to-date qualification data.

For more details, visit BuilderFax.

Originally reported by Lumber in PR News Wire.