Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Who Will Build It?

  • 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 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 that, “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-boom 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

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • University of Arizona Approves New Residence Hall

    The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved plans for a new residence hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., according to a news release. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2028 and have the capacity for more than 1,200 students, enforcing a new university expectation that all first-year students live on campus.

  • Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024.

  • 144-Year-Old High-School Campus Debuts New Academic Facility

    San Diego High School (SDHS) in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new student services and classroom building; the project is part of a larger SDHS Whole Site Modernization project that began in 2022.