Construction career opportunities for high school students.
Last week’s article mentioned the impending construction labor shortage, but focused on how college students may break into the construction industry. This article will focus on the labor shortage itself, and the opportunities it creates for those people who think about college and say, “A four year degree? Not for me!”
For a combination of reasons, fewer of America’s youth are entering the construction workforce each year. The “size of the 20- to 24-year-old male group continues to decline slowly throughout 2007, reduced by stronger immigration enforcement and hiring by manufacturers and motor carriers”1. Another probable contributor to the decline in young people pursuing careers in construction is the increase in college attendance. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “the college enrollment rate for recent high school graduates has been trending upwards…since 2001.” The College Enrollment and Work Activity of 2006 High School Graduates report, released on the 26th of April this year, quotes the “percent of high school graduates from the class of 2006…enrolled in colleges or universities” at “65.8 percent.”2 Scott Shelar, Executive Director of CEFGA, said this about increasing college attendance: “This whole ‘insistence of going to college to be successful’ may be a reason construction is down, but it’s simply not the case: if you don’t want to pursue a bachelor’s degree there are options to go pursue training and become highly successful.” The decline in youth entering construction has resulted in the average age of a construction worker rising to a startling 47 years old (depending on your area of the country).
Simple calculations illustrate the problem: over the next two decades, the construction industry, among others, will lose the baby boomer generation. In many places, this group composes a significant portion of total workers. “49% of our industry workforce is baby boomers,” says Scott Shelar. “They actually started to retire officially last year, so over the next 17-18 years, especially in construction, I think it is safe to say that we’re going to see a large number of our workforce leave.”
There is a solution to this problem. 34.2% of High School graduates did not go on to either a 2- or 4- year college institution. Of these, 25% are unemployed. High school graduates have a host of careers in front of them to pursue, from field engineers to journeymen to crane operators. “One career path I hear a lot about,” says Scott, “is someone coming right out of high school going to work with a general contractor to learn field engineering and site layout, then ultimately becoming a superintendent running their jobs out in the field.” It is also a lucrative and ambitious career path with ample opportunity: “many companies have in house training programs to move up,” and someone may “easily make over $100,000” as early as their “mid to late 20’s.” While it is unrealistic for every high school graduate to expect to make six figures before reaching thirty, the possibilities exist and are liable to increase over the next few decades. He went on to say that “all specialty trades, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, carpentry…are in very high depend right now.” Most of these journeyman positions require a four year apprenticeship program. Interested individuals can choose from union or non-union positions, often passing on the expense of the apprenticeship to the union or private employer.
On the management side, Rhiana Barr, Corporate Human Resources Manager for Morrison Homes, admitted that a degree was often needed to get your foot in the door. But “for the right candidate,” she pointed out, “you might not need one if you have the experience.” She also said that such individuals would do well to take any position they were offered, and once in the company, perform and go back to school (“everyone has tuition assistance to go back to school”). Research for a previous article, Women in Construction, reveals that Morrison Homes has indeed taken well qualified candidates without a degree. The delightful Laura Bailey, Corporate Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Morrison, is one such person and a great role model for individuals aspiring to successful construction careers.
So, how exactly can interested high school graduates land a job? To begin, they should start while still in high school. CEFGA is a great example of a local industry organization that helps facilitate student work and summer internships. Visit www.CEFGA.org if you live in Georgia, or seek out your equivalent state or local construction trades organization. Internships and other opportunities provided by these organizations can prove highly educational to the student, as well as start the key networking process that can result in a permanent position. Often, companies will offer internships between a student’s Junior and Senior years, then take that student on full time upon graduation. Additionally, some high schools have good construction curriculums that have been accredited and certified by the trade organizations. CEFGA recommends looking for a high school or tech college that has heavy ties with the local industry. A good high school or tech college will also be able to help with placing students in careers upon graduation, especially if your school is in fact heavily active with the local construction industry.
Replacing the baby boomer generation will take more than just these organizations facilitating high school graduates’ entry into the industry. Exposure to youth needs to increase, positing construction careers as lucrative, successful, and desirable. Organizations such as CEFGA are helping in this measure as well, with projects such as their “Career Expo” and “SkillsUSA Championships,” which give high school students first hand exposure to careers in the industry. Without this, many graduates will continue to enter universities in higher numbers, while others are left to wonder what to do with themselves. Students need to know that construction is a viable, sometimes even preferable, alternative to college.
1. Ireland, Beck. Wanted: Skilled Labor, EC&M. Online. 1/1/2007. http://ecmweb.com/mag/electric_wanted_skilled_labor/
2. College Enrollment and Work Activity of 2006 High School Graduates. April 26, 2007. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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