With the rise of robotics and artifical intelligence, or AI, some industries will be dominated by computers in the future. Not construction. Construction will remain people-dominated for many years to come. The industry needs people to rig pipe, erect forms, design foundation elements, align machinery, and supervise the work, among other tasks. People management skills are very much in demand — and the industry needs new ways to attract young people and nurture their mental health and wellness so they can help us fill that demand.
Attracting young people
Labor shortages are beginning to slow across some industries, but the need to attract skilled, committed young people to construction fields is not. Baby boomers are retiring from construction and taking a wealth of knowledge with them, not just about how to install equipment, drive a pile, or finish a bridge deck, but also how to determine a schedule, establish production goals, and motivate staff to meet them. They are leaving a gaping hole that young managers like me are rapidly trying to fill.
But how do we convince young people to spend their time in the construction field, where at least some amount of work will be done outside, using their hands and brains to design and build things, when they could be in an office or working remotely? How do we showcase that construction is a viable career for young women who may never have been exposed to building things during their childhood?
First and foremost, we must be honest about the industry. Yes, it’s going to be cold sometimes. Yes, other days you might get sunburn. That’s part of the experience and it’s part of the fun and camaraderie that is unlike any other industry. We cannot sugarcoat the hard physical work and sweat of construction as we seek to convince people to join. Sometimes workwear will not fit women optimally. Sometimes we will be the only woman on a site.
But we must also emphasize the amazing satisfaction that comes with problem-solving and overcoming those hardships as a team, and seeing our efforts come to fruition in the physical world. Motivated individuals will be drawn to the challenge and the mental and physical diversity of the work.
Mental health and wellness
We must also be upfront about the emotional toll this type of work can take. Unfortunately, the construction industry has one of the highest rates of suicide of any industry.¹ Over the past few years, construction companies have recognized the need for mental health and wellness support for employees and have teamed up with industry groups and contractor associations to find ways to support workers. In the sometimes tough, abrasive environment of construction tradespeople, it can be difficult to talk about mental health. But it’s in that exact environment that we are realizing that we must talk about it, and we must provide professional resources to help.
Many companies have fortified their employee assistance programs, or EAPs, to include more mental health benefits and have promoted these benefits on a much larger scale than before. Project managers and field leaders are being trained to recognize warning signs and the best way to talk to their team members about these issues. Industry events are starting to include sessions on mental health awareness; our last two Construction Institute Summits have included presentations and plenary sessions on these topics.
Labor shortages are beginning to slow across some industries, but the need to attract skilled, committed young people to construction fields is not.
It’s too early to tell how these actions are impacting the industry. However, I’ve heard countless anecdotes from those who have been positively impacted by these programs. They say that having someone reach out to check on them helped them realize their importance to the team. We can all have that positive impact and learn about our company’s EAP and resources on mental health and wellness education.
Advocate early
It’s never too early to start talking about engineering and construction with our young people. We have the responsibility to share the variety of engineering and construction opportunities available as future careers. I have heard many stories about girls already knowing what they want to do by the age of 12. We have to make sure they know what an engineer in the field of construction does by the time they hit middle school. And beyond that, we need to tell them about the subsets of engineering — design, research, management, development, and field construction — so they have more opportunities to see themselves doing these jobs. We must also educate them on the financial side of joining construction. It’s an industry that can pay well and values a strong work ethic. One can make a great living working in construction.
For children and teens who may not see college as the right choice for them, we can talk about the trade schools and apprenticeship programs available in this field. For example, Cianbro, where I hang my hard hat, has an in-house apprenticeship program at The Cianbro Institute in Pittsfield, Maine. Former craftspeople educate young people from high school age through adulthood using a series of programs that start with a construction boot camp and lead to individual apprenticeships. Many other programs like this exist to provide a solid career path outside of attending college.
For those who do choose to study construction at the university level, the Construction Institute holds an annual event called CI Student Days that challenges students to work in teams to design a specific project, just as they would in the real world, and present their designs to a board of practicing professionals. Participants learn about collaboration, team roles, presentation skills, and meeting clients’ requirements, in addition to engineering design skills.
Serve as a role model
In all these endeavors, we can be the example. Growing up, I never thought about working in construction. I did not see women in construction. I was not exposed to many women in engineering. I started college wanting to be a doctor and soon realized that wasn’t the best fit for me. I encountered a construction company during a career fair, and I haven’t looked back or regretted my choice.
But I don’t want to leave recruiting the future workforce to happenstance. I want to show the young women around me that construction has been a great career and continues to be so. There is a place for women — for everyone — in construction regardless of your background. Women in construction must share their successes and talk about the industry to drive more young women into the ranks.
Construction is a growing field, and it cannot afford to leave any skilled workers behind. Women are critical to the success of the construction industry and will continue to be for years to come.
References
1 “Construction workers are dying by suicide at an alarming rate,” NBC News, June 23, 2004.
