October is Careers in Construction Month, a time to celebrate everything our profession has to offer as a career path for current and future construction workers.
We have a lot to celebrate:
- Construction jobs pay higher-than-average wages.
- Our employers offer room for career advancement.
- There’s a demand for the work we do.
- Our construction projects make a difference in the world.
We also have some work to do.
Labor shortages could slow our industry
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 7.7 million Americans work in the construction sector, which includes highway building and maintenance. At its current rate of job growth, our industry will add another 300,000 people to its payroll by 2030.
This rate of growth won’t keep pace with our industry’s demand for new workers over the next 10 years and beyond. The resulting labor shortages could delay projects and overextend existing workers.
What can we do now to create more workers later?
As a family of leading infrastructure companies, we can help grow our industry’s worker base by telling people about the opportunities a career in construction can offer. In fact, this is one reason Careers in Construction Month exists.
We can spread the word by:
- Participating in job fairs: Some of our partner companies already host their own jobs fairs and promote them online. We can also attend other job fairs that welcome area employers. Job fairs put us in front of an audience that’s already eager to learn more.
- Encouraging young people: A lot of us know a family member, a friend, or a neighbor who will be making career decisions soon. Someone who’s about to graduate from high school often fits this description, but older people may be considering a career change, too. Telling people about the stability and rewards of a job in construction might inspire them to learn more or to tell someone else.
- Posting on social media: Promoting our company’s job openings — or simply posting information about our companies and our profession — on social media can make people more aware of the importance and rewards of infrastructure work.
No matter how we share the message, the message is the same: Infrastructure jobs provide a stable income, room to advance in the profession, and a chance to do work that really matters.
Let’s spread the word this month.