By Nicole Needles, NCCER
The construction profession has been a generational and long-standing career path for many families. Others have found success working their way up from apprentice to journey-level to owning their own company. Using creativity, employing critical thinking skills and working with their hands to make something tangible leaves craft professionals feeling accomplished at the end of the day.
Despite all the clear benefits and lucrative careers in construction, there continues to be a labor shortage, with projections of remaining a problem as the next generation enters the workforce. In fact, the industry is facing an estimated 2 million skilled worker shortage through 2025.
Within the next five years, 19.3% of seasoned construction workers will retire, and 40.1% within the next 15, leading to an extreme shortage of incoming workers with the skills needed to fill the gap. Not only is Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2009, facing higher rates of unemployment compared to generations past at their age, they are primarily working in the restaurant and travel industries. With the hurdles of difficulty finding employment and the lack of awareness about construction careers, it makes sense that there are many underrated and missed opportunities for young people in construction. So, where do we go from here?
Build Your Future (BYF) is striving to bridge this gap and bring awareness to construction and the opportunities it provides. By showing students the opportunities available, young people are led to their dream job that they may not have known they wanted.
Since 1997, BYF has led the charge of spreading the word about construction careers. Encouraging industry and education professionals to do the same, BYF provides career education resources and materials needed to reach the younger generation. We can all play a part in that.
With resources provided by BYF, it’s easier than ever to promote careers in construction. On the Industry Professionals section on the website, there are various recruitment and education resources. In particular, the Student Outreach document is a comprehensive guide on how to connect with teachers and faculty at schools and reach students at career day exhibitions. Various other resources include the blog, featuring content for industry, education and students; video resources, highlight successful craft professionals; and a map of the craft demand in each state in the U.S., which is an eye-opener to the skills gap in the industry.
In addition, starting in 2005, every October is celebrated as Careers in Construction Month, giving the industry a time to highlight the impact construction has on our lives.
Nationwide, states proclaim October as Careers in Construction Month, industry professionals share their stories and trainees and students show off their building skills in the I BUILT THIS! video contest. While BYF makes significant efforts year-round, this campaign rallies the nation to raise awareness about the world of opportunity for younger generations in the field. Here are three ways you can get involved:
Sharing your story through networking, presenting and mentoring is a very personal way to impact those around you. Hearing your career story is often more memorable than general statistics or information. Gen Z wants authenticity — they want to hear real stories from real people, just like you. Get involved by speaking at a school event, entering a mentorship program, hosting a site visit, sitting on a school advisory board and more!
Show your commitment to connect with students by signing the pledge. After doing so and participating in a virtual or in-person classroom engagement, you will be entered into a drawing for one of four $5,000 scholarships to be given to the secondary craft training program of their choice.
Showcase your trainees’ work on the job site by submitting a video to the seventh-annual I BUILT THIS! video contest. This is a nationwide contest inviting construction trainees or apprentices to highlight their building projects to celebrate the art of building. Trainees have the chance to win big from prize sponsors DEWALT, IRWIN and LENOX! Need inspiration? Last year’s postsecondary category winner was a masonry trainee who built a fireplace with a pizza oven, and 2019’s winners were a sheet metal apprentice and electrical trainees. The official rules can be found on byf.org. The contest closes on Nov. 14, so there is still time to enter!
October is just one month of the year that we can all work together to educate younger generations and the public about careers in construction. Whether you are an industry leader excited to share what you do or to get involved behind the scenes, there is a way for you to step up, make this CICM the best one yet and shape the future of the construction industry. Careers in Construction month is a great kickstart to get excited about the expansive opportunities construction offers all year long and to carry on the legacy and pride that marks the industry. The work has been done for the month of October, now it is time for all of us to work together in keeping the momentum.
About the Author
Nicole Needles is the communications coordinator at NCCER where she assists with the Breaking Ground Newsroom and other marketing efforts. She graduated in May 2020 from the University of Florida with her bachelor’s degree in journalism.
About NCCER — NCCER, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) education foundation created by the construction industry, provides a comprehensive workforce development system that includes accreditation, training, assessment, certification and career development solutions for the construction and maintenance industries. For more information, visit www.nccer.org or call 888.622.3720.About Build Your Future – Build Your Future (BYF) is NCCER’s national image enhancement and recruitment initiative for the construction industry. Its mission is to recruit the next generation of craft professionals by making career and technical education a priority in secondary schools, shifting negative public perception about careers in the construction industry and providing a path from ambition, to training, to job placement as a craft professional. For more information, visit byf.org
