Gone are the days when hosting a booth at the local job fair was all it took to convince high school students to seek a career in construction. After decades of relying on status-quo recruitment methods, the industry is looking to more creative, hands-on approaches to win over the next generation and improve its image as a place to build a career.
Over the past two decades, the pipeline of young workers entering the industry has slowed to a trickle. The main problem is a misperception of the industry and a lack of understanding of the jobs available, according to Brian Turmail, executive director of public affairs for the Associated General Contractors of America. "In modern construction, you're as likely to hold an iPad as a hammer, and we want people to see that," he says.