How to close the construction industry’s talent gap.

In the next few years, the construction industry will need more than half a million additional new workers over and above normal hiring levels. Yet, International Construction magazine reports that job openings in the industry remain stubbornly high.

Proposed solutions range from making industry jobs more appealing by emphasising their impact on environmental and sustainability projects of interest to younger people, to long term investments in education and awareness to build positive attitudes toward the industry. Other suggestions include support for skilled trades training and apprenticeship programmes and enhanced efforts to communicate the ‘high-tech’ aspects of the construction industry particularly to young women and members of other underrepresented communities.

The article concludes that industry’s ongoing demand for skilled workers is not likely to be met unless investments are made today to change the perception of the young people who will be needed to fill those jobs tomorrow.