2024 Construction Workforce Shortage Tops Half Million, Says ABC

The construction industry will need to attract an estimated 501,000 additional workers on top of the normal pace of hiring in 2024 to meet the demand for labor, according to a proprietary model developed by Associated Builders and Contractors. In 2025, the industry will need to bring in nearly 454,000 new workers on top of normal hiring to meet industry demand, and that’s presuming that construction spending growth slows significantly next year. “ABC estimates that the U.S. construction industry needs to attract about a half-million new workers in 2024 to balance supply and demand,” said Michael Bellaman, ABC president and … Read more

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Teens Sign on for Careers in Skilled Trades

Boldt recently hosted a signing day to celebrate its youth apprentices committing to pursue a career in the skilled trades or attend a post-secondary institution. Following the signing day, the company hosted a new career event called BuildX, an interactive day-in-the-life experience to connect industry leaders and high school students curious about a career in construction, architecture or engineering. Boldt’s youth apprentices signed letters of intent to either an area university, or union, where they will pursue a career in the skilled trades – a sector in high demand due to large labor shortages. According to the Associated Builders and … Read more

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Analysis of Contractor Surveys Shows Construction Workforce Shortage is Disproportionately Impacting Nonunion Firms

A review of 2018-21 Associated General Contractors of America surveys of more than 5,000 member firms nationwide reveals that nonunion construction firms are facing significantly greater workforce supply problems than their union counterparts. These problems preceded the COVID-19 pandemic. The surveys, which include responses from 1,768 union contractors and 3,893 nonunion contractors, were analyzed by researchers from the nonpartisan Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Associated General Contractors of America represents more than 27,000 construction firms nationally. It releases its topline survey data each September and, since … Read more

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A Chat with Matthew (Matt) Lawson, General Superintendent at DPR Construction

A marathon, not a sprint: leading by example to prepare next-generation superintendents for greatness By Chris Maday Schmidt With 33 years of industry experience, Matthew (Matt) Lawson is a general superintendent at DPR Construction. An experienced construction professional, Lawson has worked on a wide range of projects, from small- to large-scale facilities throughout Northern California. His background includes a broad spectrum of building types, including biotech facilities, public facilities, education and office buildings. Join Construction Superintendent as Lawson talks about his biggest advocate, his biggest non-negotiable in the business, as well as the project that made the biggest impact on … Read more

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Developing Workforce through Mortenson’s 1st Apprenticeship Program

Mortenson Phoenix has completed the company’s first ever NCCER Apprenticeship Class, focused on developing its carpenter workforce in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area. This marks the culmination of two years of research, analysis, approvals, planning and ultimately execution, held in its Phoenix Equipment Facility. This platform, and the foundational work put into this program to date, could lead to even bigger growth opportunities in the future, as the general contractor continues to solve for workforce development and engagement. The cohort consisted of four skilled craft team members including Sergio Pacheco, Daniel Rodriguez, Zachary Shockey and Alonso Sarinana Villa. The program … Read more

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