Construction sites sitting idle? Building projects delayed across the country?
The built environment sector cannot find enough workers to meet America's critical infrastructure needs. The latest data shows a staggering gap between open positions in construction, trades, and facilities management versus available workers, indicating a dangerous decline in built environment workforce participation.
This workforce shortage has risen to the level of a national security issue. A retirement wave among skilled trades workers coupled with a shrinking pool of younger people entering construction and building careers means the built environment workforce is not replenishing itself, accounting for half of the gap between labor supply and demand. In addition, many potential workers have not entered or returned to building trades since the pandemic. According to industry economists, the reasons include ongoing health concerns, lack of access to training programs, shift in career preferences among younger generations, and the need for more competitive compensation and benefits in construction fields.
According to a recent release by the Associated Builders and Contractors, the construction industry will need to attract an estimated 439,000 net new workers in 2025 to meet the anticipated demand for construction services. This shortage can be acutely felt in states across the country, as they try to carry out projects that have been funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The workforce shortage across the built environment has evolved from a past problem into today’s major crisis and will become a disaster if left unaddressed. Previous strategies and interventions have failed to provide solutions on a scale. Demographic and labor data demonstrate that the only viable solution is to increase the national pipeline of women throughout the built environment.
On March 4, the National Institute of Building Sciences, International Code Council, and National Building Museum will co-host Elevate 2025, a built environment workforce summit.
Elevate 2025 will bring together leaders and policymakers to understand the true scope and severity of the built environment workforce crisis threatening communities across the country. Expert speakers will introduce the challenges and potential policy solutions. I hope you will register to join us as we work together to support our nation’s security and growth.
