The construction industry faces a stark shortage of workers, but programs and people across the country are working at the local level to solve the problem. This series highlights those efforts helping to recruit the next generation of construction pros. Read previous entries here.
Do you know of a group that is helping to attract workers to the construction industry? Let us know.
James Jackson, 18, wants to be a woodshop teacher.
Newly graduated from high school, the San Diego-area native said he’s had a passion for woodworking for a long time, even serving as both president and treasurer of his school’s woodshop clubs at different times.
“I love that it’s so creative yet also so tangible,” Jackson told Construction Dive.
This summer, Jackson attended Skate 4 Concrete’s inaugural summer camp, a program run by nonprofit Project Cornerstone. Despite already having experience in the trades, he said he did it for some extra experience and the opportunity to try new things.
Run from July 15 to July 17, Skate 4 Concrete’s summer camp in San Diego gave students aged 15 to 18 exposure to jobs in the trades including equipment operation, concrete jobs and welding.
“Frankly, concrete isn’t my thing, I more work with wood,” Jackson said. “But I’m all for promoting trades across younger people, I strongly believe the world is spun around by trades.”
Camp beginnings
Carlsbad, California-based nonprofit Project Cornerstone was formed in 2014 as a means of promoting the aggregates industry. Its name references the fact that cement and concrete are the cornerstone of construction and therefore communities, said executive director Crystal Howard.
Project Cornerstone seeks to do something about the ongoing labor shortage in the trades.
“I’m super passionate about helping the construction industry — the construction aggregates and materials side specifically — to solve that problem and bring more awareness to the amazing careers that are available in concrete construction, aggregates, asphalt as well,” Howard said.
When talking to students about construction, Howard said she finds it helped to narrow the focus on how specific projects come to fruition. In particular, she said, students have taken an interest in the use of concrete in skate parks.
“So that’s really where Skate 4 Concrete was born out of, like truly creating a targeted approach about talking about jobs in our industry,” Howard said.
The nonprofit ran field trips to quarries or concrete plants for students to get a look at the industry, but eventually, Howard saw students needed a better understanding of the jobs themselves and how to get started in the trades. That initiated the camp.
First camp program
The inaugural three-day camp focused on getting students more familiar with the industry and its opportunities. Day one brought the students to the local Associated General Contractors apprenticeship program, where Howard said they learned what kinds of jobs they could find in construction and what training would be required.
On day two, the Martin Marietta Mechanic Shop in Lakeside, California, hosted the campers as they learned about welding, mechanic and equipment operator careers.
The camp concluded on the last day with shadowing more mechanics, meeting local construction companies and conducting mock interviews.
“In order to apply for a job, you have to know it exists, but you have to have heard of the company before,” Howard said. “So if they’re becoming familiar with logos and like, what is Flatiron? Who is Flatiron? Who is Granite Construction? How do they know to go and seek a job with that company if they don’t know who they are? So part of it is educating about the companies that are available.”
Camp experiences
Caleb Proctor, 18, works to install internet and phone lines for businesses in the San Diego area. He’s had the job for a few weeks, but before that, he had attended the Skate 4 Concrete camp.
“I’ve wanted to get into the construction industry for a while,” he told Construction Dive, saying he had done temp work for a family friend in construction, like tearing down walls, installing drywall and building a fence.
Proctor said he already knew what he wanted from the industry, but the camp still gave him insight and experience. And he had fun, he said.
On the other hand, Cole Proctor, 17, and Caleb’s brother, said he hadn’t considered construction as a career.
“It changed my opinions on it,” the younger Proctor told Construction Dive, saying he’s now considering the trades as a career., “I love the concrete. That I found really cool. I thought the math side was pretty cool.”
