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Parents Pathway to Youth Recruitment to Construction TradesShare this on Facebook

Despite the soaring cost of college and attaining a four-year degree, 70 percent of parents recently surveyed by the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) would steer their teens away from a career in the construction trades.

Brian Turmail, vice president, public affairs and strategic initiatives at Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), told MarketWatch that for too long the construction trades have been stigmatized as a “last resort, instead of a career opportunity that ought to be on the menu to be considered.” Turmail points out that this has been due in part to the fact that,“It’s been so impressed upon us that the path to success in the 21st century lies through a four-year traditional college education.

”With more than 3 million skilled trade jobs predicted to be open by 2028, a recent National Association of Home Builders found that 69 percent of its members are encountering project completion delays due to workforce shortage issues.

NCCER’s survey of parents revealed that 40 percent thought construction trade jobs to be low-paying, a falsehood that continues to dog industry recruitment efforts.

In fact, NCCER’s 2018 construction craft salary survey found the following average salaries (not including overtime, per diem or other incentives):
-$59,600 for plumbers
-$62,400 for HVAC techs
-$92,500 for project managers

Additionally, a 2015 report by TINYpulse found that construction workers were listed as the happiest employees.

Turmail pointed out that this combination is potent and should appeal to parents: “It’s economics and satisfaction. You want your children to get out of the house and be successful and independent once they’re grown up.”

The construction trades for the win.