You might know this month as simply “October,” but we are joining The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) in welcoming what we know as “Careers in Construction Month.” In partnership with their Build Your Future (BYF) organization, we at I Build America – Ohio hope to increase awareness about the range of opportunities available in the construction industry all month long.
This is a critical year for Careers in Construction Month. As we’ve reported, we are still in a major labor shortage in the industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are more than 400,000 unfilled construction positions. But how can we be this far behind on skilled workers? According to Autodesk, there are a few factors that have led to this labor shortage:
- The recession forced many skilled laborers out of the industry to find work where they could.
- The Baby Boomer generation, who once dominated the construction industry from laborers to team leaders, are aging and preparing to retire.
- Millennials, on the other hand, are entering other industries at much higher rates than construction, leaving a void that would otherwise be filled.
Because of this deficit, projects are more expensive and take longer. Companies simply can’t find the right people to fill the required roles to get the job. In fact, Autodesk also reports that “80% of construction firms report they are having a hard time filling hourly craft positions.” Not only that, they report that the majority don’t see an improvement for the near future. They have found that “73% of firms report it will continue to be hard, or get even harder, to find hourly craft workers over the next 12 months.”
These stats are why we at I Build America – Ohio are dedicated to celebrating Careers in Construction Month. We hope to change the construction industry’s current situation and future outlook, which is why we place a high priority on training our states’ next generation of construction workers. The first step is getting the word out and connecting with the right people.
This is where you come in.
We would like to formally invite you to join us in celebrating Careers in Construction Month throughout the entire month of October. What’s the best way to get involved? We cover all the ways you can celebrate Careers in Construction Month all October long in a recent post. Click here to learn more. Then, show your support on social media with this year’s graphics. The easiest way to access this year’s graphics is in our recent blog post. Click here to check them all out! When you do share online, be sure to tag us on Facebook (I Build America – Ohio) and on Instagram (@ibuildamerica_ohio) with #IBuildAmericaOHIO.
We hope you can join us this month, but October is only just the beginning. It’s our mission to increase public awareness every month of the year. We will continue to encourage people of all ages and from all walks of life to join the construction industry. No matter the month, it’s a perfect time to begin a career in construction. Start training today >> contact us here.
