Efforts to engage the next generation in skilled trades are helping address labor shortages.
No one can deny that construction workers are integral to every project, from housing to industrial development. With that being said, the industry’s significant labor shortages are contributing to a domino effect of issues, including America’s housing crisis.
The Home Builders Institute (HBI) estimates that the construction industry needs to hire at least 723,000 new workers each year to address the country’s housing shortage, an estimated shortfall of approximately 1.5 million homes, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
This dilemma is further exacerbated by the industry’s aging workforce. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that more than 20% of construction workers are 55 or older. As this large portion of its labor force is nearing retirement, a gap is being created that younger generations aren’t filling quickly enough.
Organizations like Construction Ready are playing a pivotal role in addressing this issue. The nonprofit is introducing young blood to the industry primarily through partnerships with public high schools across Georgia and Florida, working to educate students on the different career options available in the trades and equip them with skills and credentials necessary to succeed.
“We had this perception in our society that you had to have a four-year degree to be successful. Over the last, four years, that has really shifted to where people are open to the skilled trades as an option,” says Scott Shelar, president and CEO of Construction Ready. “It seemed to start around the time of COVID. Everything was shut down except for essential jobs. Construction was one of those careers that was identified as essential. I think people saw that and said, ‘Wait a minute, I want to work in an industry that’s identified as essential, where nothing is going to shut it down.’ ”
Shelar also named student loan debt as another factor reigniting interest in trade-related careers.
“The good thing about skilled trades and the construction industry is you don’t usually have to take on any debt to pursue a career in the industry. You can get all the training that you need through apprenticeship programs that are sponsored by trade associations or trade unions. Not only do you not have to take on debt, but you can also earn wages and learn at the same time.”
Construction Ready has seen first hand how this change in mindset is influencing younger generations to enter the trades. Around 2,000 students graduate from the organization’s high school programs each year, with an additional 200 annually completing their adult training programs as well.
The Ability to Build a New Beginning
For many graduates, this education has transformed their lives. Construction Ready’s website is filled with videos and written testimonials from graduates, explaining the impact of the skill they obtained. One in particular continues to stand out to Shelar.
Ninety-seven percent of Construction Ready students secure full-time positions after graduation.
Photo courtesy of Construction Ready
“A great example that I like to share is a young man named Ian Miller. He committed armed robbery of a CVS when he was 16 years old up in Cobb County [Georgia] and ended up spending 10 years in prison.”
When Miller was released in 2014, he immediately joined Construction Ready’s four-week pre-apprenticeship program at Westside Works, a neighborhood-based workforce collaborative serving the Westside and Greater Metro Atlanta area.
The training he received helped Miller land an entry level job at Holder Construction initially working on the now completed Mercedes Benz Stadium. Ten years later, he is still with the company and has risen in the ranks to chief field engineer.
“We’re able to help them not only get a job,” Shelar says, “but a long-term career with a great company like Holder Construction and be on a career path where he’s earning great money and building a life for himself.”
Igniting Careers Through Connections
Connecting students with employment opportunities is certainly one of Construction Ready’s strong suits. In addition to hosting monthly hiring fairs, the organization organizes the CareerEXPO, an annual event held in both Georgia and Florida. Over 10,000 people attended the Georgia 2024 CareerEXPO at the Georgia World Congress Center, where approximately 300 employers set up booths to interact with students and provide insight into job opportunities at their companies. Construction Ready’s largest employers include Georgia Power, Holder Construction, Anning-Johnson, McKinney Builders and Clean Harbors.
Many of these companies not only employ Construction Ready graduates but also actively support the organization’s efforts to recruit and train talent. In addition to funding from the government and philanthropic foundations such as the Home Depot Foundation and the Marcus Foundation, some of these companies contribute financially to sustain and expand the organization’s outreach.
This support has been instrumental in driving Construction Ready’s growth, which continues to expand beyond its home state.
“Continuing to innovate in our home state and branching out to other states and helping them figure out how to get more people into skilled trades, that’s our focus over the next five to 10 years,” says Shelar. “We’re getting calls from other states like Alabama and the Carolinas. They are very interested in the model and what we’ve been able to accomplish in Georgia.
