The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, heard from representatives of the construction industry in a hearing entitled “Closing the Skills Gap and Boosting U.S. Competitiveness” on March 29.
There are about 100,000 fewer people working in the construction industry today than in 2007, said Rory DeJohn, senior vice president, Turner Construction Company. Though the industry has been able to fill the gap with higher productivity aided by new technology, the trend is for the skills gap to worsen, he said.
“There is a shortage of education and training opportunities for the people our industry needs most,” DeJohn said. There are efforts to increase the diversity of the talent pipeline, he said. “The Future City Competition, the ACE Mentor Program and Turner’s own YouthForce 2020 program are just three programs that are addressing this,” DeJohn said.
Efforts to make the construction industry safer, support for industry trade groups, and getting the word out to high school guidance counselors about opportunities in the industry can also make a difference, DeJohn said. Another key opportunity: helping to transition military veterans to the construction industry.
Related Stories
Urban Planning | Jan 2, 2024
Federal Highway Administration releases updated traffic control manual
With pedestrian deaths surging nationwide, the Federal Highway Administration released a new edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways. The manual contains standards for street markings and design, standardizing signage, and making driving as seamless as possible.
Engineers | Dec 22, 2023
ACEC report identifies opportunities for improving diversity for engineering firms
The ACEC Research Institute recently released a Diversity Roadmap presenting the state of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) in the engineering industry.
Contractors | Dec 22, 2023
DBIA releases two free DEI resources for AEC firms
The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) has released two new resources offering guidance and provisions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) on design-build projects.
MFPRO+ News | Dec 22, 2023
Document offers guidance on heat pump deployment for multifamily housing
ICAST (International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology) has released a resource guide to help multifamily owners and managers, policymakers, utilities, energy efficiency program implementers, and others advance the deployment of VHE heat pump HVAC and water heaters in multifamily housing.
Sustainability | Dec 22, 2023
WSP unveils scenario-planning online game
WSP has released a scenario-planning online game to help organizations achieve sustainable development goals while expanding awareness about climate change.
MFPRO+ News | Dec 18, 2023
Berkeley, Calif., raises building height limits in downtown area
Facing a severe housing shortage, the City of Berkeley, Calif., increased the height limits on residential buildings to 12 stories in the area close to the University of California campus.
Green | Dec 18, 2023
Class B commercial properties gain more from LEED certification than Class A buildings
Class B office properties that are LEED certified command a greater relative benefit than LEED-certified Class A buildings, according to analysis from CBRE. The Class B LEED rent advantage over non-LEED is about three times larger than the premium earned by Class A LEED buildings.
Codes and Standards | Dec 18, 2023
ASHRAE releases guide on grid interactivity in the decarbonization process
A guide focusing on the critical role of grid interactivity in building decarbonization was recently published by ASHRAE. The Grid-Interactive Buildings for Decarbonization: Design and Operation Resource Guide provides information on maximizing carbon reduction through buildings’ interaction with the electric power grid.
Architects | Dec 18, 2023
Perkins&Will’s new PRECEDE tool provides access to public health data to inform design decisions
Perkins&Will recently launched a free digital resource that allows architects and designers to access key public health data to inform design decisions. The “Public Repository to Engage Community and Enhance Design Equity,” or PRECEDE, centralizes demographic, environmental, and health data from across the U.S. into a geospatial database.
Codes and Standards | Dec 11, 2023
Washington state tries new approach to phase out fossil fuels in new construction
After pausing a heat pump mandate earlier this year after a federal court overturned Berkeley, Calif.’s ban on gas appliances in new buildings, Washington state enacted a new code provision that seems poised to achieve the same goal.