Building Skills

  • By Deborah P. Moore
  • 09/01/15

There is no question that the construction industry is once again growing. In one year’s time — July 2014 to July 2015 — we saw a 12.7 percent increase in non-residential construction. The change in educational facility construction was not nearly as dramatic, but more money is definitely being spent. In the education segment, we saw a 3.6 percent increase in the value of total construction being put in place (a 7.6 percent increase in private construction and a 2.6 percent increase in public construction). The increase in construction activity is good news. The bad news is that now we are facing a shortage of skilled workers to do the job.

According to an analysis done by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, “Construction employment in July climbed to the highest level since February 2009, while the number of unemployed workers with construction experience shrank to a 14-year low.” Association officials cautioned, “the diminishing pool of available qualified labor may be having an impact on the industry’s ability to meet growing demand.”

Many in the construction industry left during the downturn. Others, members of the baby-boomer generation, are now retiring. In a July survey, the AGC reported that 86 percent of commercial builders said they’re having trouble filling hourly or salaried positions, up from 83 percent last year.

One effect of this labor shortage is likely to be an increase in the price we pay. Other effects we are likely to see include a decrease in quality and an increase in construction delays. It is a given that job experience and production quality go hand in hand when it comes to skilled workers.

As educators we are in a unique position to help ourselves… by providing adequate training for the next generation of skilled workers. Trade schools provide the basics of the construction profession, with instruction that offers a mixture of hands-on and classroom experiences. Experienced construction workers who want to manage construction sites can continue their education in a college or university offering a degree in construction engineering technology.

This is a challenge, for our institutions and the industry at large, that we are uniquely prepared to meet. Let’s work together to make it happen.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Fort Collins to Convert 1980s Office Park into Junior High School

    The Liberty Common School, a charter-public school in Fort Collins, Colo., recently broke ground on an adaptive reuse project that will convert an 1980s-era office park into a 45,000-square-foot junior high school for seventh- and eighth-grade students, according to a news release.

  • Boosting Student Wellness and Safety Through Indoor-Outdoor School Spaces

    Engaging students through facilities designed for indoor and outdoor learning and activities reflects a growing awareness of how children learn and thrive, with educators recognizing the importance of getting outside and disconnecting from technology. And, as today’s youth grapple with the urgent mental health crisis of increased anxiety and loneliness fueled by both the pandemic and technology, along with a related crisis in youth physical health, the wellness benefits of getting outside have never been so palpable.

  • modern college building with circuit and brain motifs

    Anthropic Introduces Claude for Education

    Anthropic has launched a version of its Claude AI assistant tailored for higher education institutions. Claude for Education "gives academic institutions secure, reliable AI access for their entire community," the company said, to enable colleges and universities to develop and implement AI-enabled approaches across teaching, learning, and administration.

  • Active Learning Classroom

    Striking a Balance: The Keys to Renovating Science Education Buildings for the 21st Century

    The recent renovation of the Durham Science Center at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO) provides a roadmap for facilities managers tasked with balancing budget constraints, modern pedagogical demands, and long-term sustainability.