Degenerating Image of the Construction Industry

Abstract

There is an extraordinary and unexpected connection between the degenerating image of the construction industry and the low regard contemporary society holds for construction tradespeople. Uncovered through recent research and verified by several think tanks on the subject, the industry’s image is driving potential entrants away from construction trades as a career choice. Understanding the root cause of construction’s image problem forms the foundation for the discovery of solutions, according to Dr. William W. Badger, Director of the Del E. Webb School of Construction, Arizona State University; this is why we invited a select group of construction professionals from across the country to examine our research findings. We asked them to challenge the underlying data, test the information and qualifying factors, assist in setting the future research direction, and further the pursue solutions. A necessary element of research is its grounding in reality. It is therefore necessary to discuss the results and ramifications with knowledgeable people who are not too close to the research. The process includes periodic one-day meetings with a small group of construction professionals in a ‘‘think tank’’ process to discuss the findings and qualifying factors. The research is ongoing, with the objective of fashioning and generating effective solutions ~accomplishable ones! that can correct the bad image and effectively address the labor shortage. The research has defined a specific connection between the skilled labor shortage and the degenerating image of our industry and the low regard contemporary society holds for construction tradespeople. Blue-collar workers have become hugely underappreciated in our country, a prime factor in the poor image the construction industry has with owners, designers, and the general public. Attitudes toward blue-collar work continue to deteriorate, indicating that public relations efforts to improve the construction industry image are not working. And they will not work because the genesis of the problem is not the industry, but the general public’s attitude toward those who choose construction trades as a career path. This is not true for those who choose a construction career at the management level, which is why current recruitment efforts are attracting high school students to construction colleges—but few, if any, to the trades.