In its latest monthly report, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that the country’s construction workforce in May was down 225,000 people from the pre-pandemic level of February 2020, a 2.9% decline.
The nonresidential construction industry continues to find it difficult to attract younger adults into the profession, leading some firms to cast an ever-wider recruitment net.
For example, McCarthy Building Companies, the national construction firm based in Dallas, recently formalized a partnership with the U.S. Army Partnership for Youth Success program (PaYS), to connect with active and former military personnel for future employment opportunities.
“McCarthy builds projects that help strengthen our nation’s infrastructure, provide spaces to educate our next generation of leaders, and keep our communities running smoothly,” McCarthy CEO Ray Sedey said in a prepared statement. “For us to successfully build these projects, we need the absolute best people—individuals with a drive for excellence, strong work ethic, technical skills, a team-first mentality, and a willingness to tackle the challenges that come with the complex work we do. The skills and talents we require of our workforce align seamlessly with many of the strengths that come from being in the military.”
PROGRAM GIVES SOLDIERS EXPOSURE WITH COMPANIES
McCarthy’s work has long included building facilities for the Armed Forces, and the firm is committed to recruiting, training, and helping vets for construction careers. Last November, McCarthy launched a pilot program with Adaptive Construction Solutions to identify and train vets with military occupational specialties for an apprenticeship program to work on utility-scale solar and renewable energy projects. Participants are considered for full-time employment with McCarthy.
Through it PaYS program, the Army offers soldiers a way to serve their country while, at the same time, prepare for their futures. Qualified applicants in the Army and Army Reserves or Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) enrolled in the program are guaranteed five job interviews and possible employment with one of their chosen PaYS partners after being honorably discharged. The same is true for ROTC cadets after graduation, commissioning, and completion of other obligations depending on the officer’s status.
A POPULAR POOL
There are several hundred companies and other entities that currently participate in PaYS, ranging from city and state agencies, healthcare systems, construction material and equipment manufacturers and distributors, fast-food retailers, and even giant investment firms like JPMorgan Chase. A perusal of the program’s partners list, though, found only one other national AEC firm, Burns & McDonnell.
Speaking of his firm’s involvement in PaYS, Sedey said that McCarthy “wants to be an employer of choice for our veterans.” The firm’s National Outreach Manager, Jessica Adame, adds “The skills gained in the Army or as a Reserve Officer—leadership, teamwork, and commitments to safety and quality—transition well to a career in construction.”
According to estimates by the Council on Foreign Relations, drawn from the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense, there were about 1.3 million active-duty personnel in 2018, less than 0.5% of the U.S. population. The Army is the largest service, with 35% of the active-duty personnel that year, the latest for which data were available. About 43% of enlisted Army soldiers are between the ages of 17 and 24 (officers are more prominent in the 24-35 age range).
Women represent 19% of Army officers and 14% of enlisted personnel. Among Army recruits, the portion of Black women is significantly higher than the civilian workforce. On the other hand, Hispanic recruits are slightly below the civilian workforce.
Related Stories
| Jun 18, 2014
Design tips for Alzheimer care facilities
A new white paper from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and Perkins Eastman details best design practices for residential care settings for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease.
| Jun 18, 2014
Largest Passive House structure in the U.S. to be built in Oregon
Orchards at Orenco, a 57-unit affordable housing complex in Hillsboro, Oregon, is the first of a three-phase, three-building complex.
| Jun 18, 2014
SOM's twisting tower wins design competition for Sweden's tallest skyscraper
The skyscraper, which will reach 230 meters and is named Polstjärnan, or "The Pole Star," is to be built in Gothenburg, Sweden.
| Jun 18, 2014
Study shows walkable urbanism has positive economic impact
Walkable communities have a higher GDP, greater wealth, and higher percentages of college grads, according to a new study by George Washington University.
| Jun 18, 2014
Arup uses 3D printing to fabricate one-of-a-kind structural steel components
The firm's research shows that 3D printing has the potential to reduce costs, cut waste, and slash the carbon footprint of the construction sector.
| Jun 17, 2014
Suffolk names Jeffrey Gouveia as President, Southeast Region
Exec with eight years of Florida experience will head regional team.
| Jun 17, 2014
Must see: If music were architecture in 27 illustrations
From Miles Davis to Björk to Manu Chao to Bach, Babina visualizes how these sounds will look like if they were visible in the form of architecture.
| Jun 17, 2014
Nation's largest Thai Buddhist temple opens near Boston
The $60 million facility built in honor of King Rama IX of Thailand is the largest Thai Buddhist temple outside of Thailand.
| Jun 17, 2014
U.S. Census report examines why Americans move
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 35.9 million people moved between 2012 and 2013, meaning that 11.7% of the U.S. population moved in one year. The report seeks to examine why.