The Future of Construction
When it comes to the skilled trades, the saying “the children are the future” is more than just a cliché. As baby boomers retire in the coming years, and with anticipated demand for even more skilled workers than we have today, this country will be left with a severe gap in the construction industry workforce. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) states that the construction industry will need to add 1.2 million new jobs by the year 2012.
Because the construction industry creates the infrastructure that we depend on for even our most basic needs, our quality of life is at stake. Just imagine that if the construction industry does not attract and recruit all the workforce needed – who will build, repair and maintain our, roads, highways, bridges, sewer and water systems?
To build awareness of this growing major concern and to attract young people into the construction workforce, the AEM sponsors many events. Miller participated as a sponsor in one specifically - The Construction Challenge. In this event, high school teams across the country participated in competitions and learned about the relationships between construction, infrastructure and the quality of life.
The Construction Challenge national finals were held at the CONEXPO/CON-AGG show in Las Vegas earlier this month, “The Construction Challenge certainly opened the students minds to possible careers in construction fields,” John Connolly, a teacher and Construction Challenge team leader said.
What are your thoughts? What do you think needs to be done in order to foster an interest in the skilled trades among young people? Are you concerned about the future state of our country’s infrastructure? Please share your thoughts on this subject by posting a comment below.
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March 31st, 2008 at 9:21 am
Yes I’m very concerned about the condition of the US infrastructure at the present time, and in the future. For example the bridges were designed and built to carry the loads of the time. Well’ over the past 20+ years the number of vehicles, along with the load weight of trucks has increased. This combined with the ageing condition of the infrastructure opens the door for failure via fatigue, etc.
Even though various attempts are being made to attract young people into the skilled trades, AWS The Image of Welding, Welding so Hot it’s Cool, etc. along with CON-AGG, the shortage continues to grow.
To avoid becomming dependent on foriegn skilled trades, either illegal, or via HB-1 to perform the needed work in this country I feel there are only 2 possible ways to attract younger workers:
1. Industry needs to form somewhat of a partnership with local educational institutions, starting with high schools to demonstrate the benefits, pay rates, futures, etc. for the skilled trades. Follow this with speciallized training. If this is met with little success then maybe we need to
2. Go back in time a bit and reinstitute a program like the CCC Camps.
While many people need and deserve Govt. assistance there are many more that receive it but don’t need or deserve it. Weather it be the people on SSI, or disability that are able to nail shingles on their roof, go deer hunting, play golf, etc or those on welfare because they ” can’t find work”
Instead of free money, tie their income to training, and work in an apprenticeship type setting in the skilled trades needed in their geographic area. This would reduce Govt. spending, at the same time supply more people into the skilled trades.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:27 am
I agree with and deal with a lot of the same skilled manpower issues in our shop. We have lost some of our younger hands to the “Field” due to the money difference. We have started working with the local Jr. College to set up classes to hopefully train people for the trades. A skilled craftsman is at a permium now, can only imagin what it will be like in 10 years. Fitz
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:10 am
The welder shortage is for real. Here in the pacific northwest we have a huge demand for skilled labor. As the population increases ,the demands that are put on the infrastructure inrease.Here at Bellingham Technical college we have developed a working relationship with some of the local industries to try and get more young people to think about blue collar trades. When they see the earning potential and the fact that these jobs will not be outsourced it is making them think that this is agood time to be a welder.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:29 am
The welder shortage will b fixed by makeing more stuff that can b welded
May 6th, 2008 at 9:37 am
i agree. if we dont have the specialiststhats needed to power up the factories and builld the factories and the machines that run them, then how will we make the products that make life easier for us. thats why i say we need to start teaching people how to do the things that makes life easier for us.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:38 am
I agree with everything that they are saying 100 percent. We will have to see what the future of construction will be like. I don’t know.