Speak out for construction

by Clair Urbain

My oldest son heads to college this fall. He’s always had his sights set on schooling after high school.

The time between high school graduation and moving into a dorm room was interesting. Being 18 years old and with a summer ahead of him, I assumed he’d enthusiastically scour the want ads and talk with employers about a summer job. I encouraged him to think about working for a contractor. The work is hard, but laborer wages pay better than lifeguarding at the pool.

He had little interest in seeking out local contractors. Few of his friends were looking at such jobs and frankly, he’s not familiar with the type of work contractors do. On a jobsite, he would have been one of the greenest of the green.

While my son has felt the pride of becoming an Eagle Scout and a member of winning soccer and baseball teams, he has not yet felt the pride that comes from seeing a jobsite transform from a set of plans to a finished project. It’s a sense of accomplishment found in few jobs.

Unfortunately, he’s not alone. The closest most of these post-teeners will ever get to working on a jobsite is building an imaginary city with the SimCity computer game. Few have spent much time with a tool in their hands.

A look at demographics compounds the problem. In the next 10 years, more construction workers will reach retirement age than there are 18-to-24 year old males who will take their place.

The Construction Labor Research Council projects that at least 100,000 new construction workers will be needed every year from now until 2010.

Where will these people come from? Who will take these jobs?

Members of minority groups and women are stepping into jobs historically dominated by white males, but more workers will be needed. To meet the rigors of today’s construction schedules, skill training will be a top priority.

Everyone knows what it’s like to work short-handed or with someone unqualified for the job. It slows things down and can add another element of danger to an already hazardous job.

Good construction candidates won’t hear how rewarding construction can be from the fast-food manager, college professor or factory line leader. After all, they are in the same position, trying to find workers wherever they can.

To meet the growing worker gap, we must must show pride in our craft and encourage our children, our neighbor’s children and even part-time workers in service jobs to consider a job in construction.

Do your part to encourage others to enter your trade. Speak out for construction. We need all the supporters we can get.

Published in the September/October 2001 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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