WorldWide Drilling Resource

Filling Construction Jobs will Require Investment Adapted from Information by The Associated General Contactors of America According to the Associated General Contactors (AGC) of America, construction employment increased by 16,000 jobs in June 2017, to the highest level since October 2008. This signals a new wave of hiring, accord- ing to an analysis of new government data by AGC. However, contractors are struggling to find workers for those jobs, often having to go outside the industry to fill open positions. Association officials are urging federal and local lawmakers to make it easier for school officials, local associations, and construction firms to set up construction training programs. According to Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer, “More young people would be able to find jobs in construction that pay better than other industries if there were more opportunities to expose students to the sector. It is time to fix an education system that is preparing too many students for jobs that don’t exist, while too many jobs go unfilled because graduates lack the skills employers need.” According to the results of an industry-wide survey by Autodesk and AGC, 70% of construction firms are having a hard time filling hourly craft positions which represent the bulk of the construction workforce. Although many firms are changing the way they operate, recruit, and compensate, chronic labor shortages could have significant economic impacts if we don’t make greater investments in career and technical education. "In the short-term, fewer firms will be able to bid on construction projects if they are concerned they will not have enough workers to meet demand," said Sandherr. "Over the long-term, either construction firms will find a way to do more with fewer workers or public officials will take steps to encourage more people to pursue careers in construction." Half of construction firms report increasing base pay rates for craft workers because of the difficulty in filling positions. In fact, 20% have improved employee benefits for craft workers and 24% reported they are providing incentives and bonuses to attract workers. Companies are also doing more in-house training to cope with workforce shortages, while other companies report they are increasing overtime hours as well as increasing their use of subcontractors. Sandherr urged the Senate to pass legislation to reform and increase funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. The goal of this act is to help states and schools improve vocational and technical education, and strengthen opportunities for students. WWDR photo. ! " # ! 17 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2017