Skip to main content

Is silicon valley the answer to attracting the next generation in construction?

Use technology at jobsites

The root of the labor shortage goes back to the Great Recession of the late 2000s when nearly two million people exited the construction industry. A recent industry survey found that 70 percent of firms had trouble filling positions, and 75 percent felt the situation would only get worse next year.

When students - who are graduating with an appetite to work for Silicon Valley startups - close their eyes, they think about construction as a hard-working, hands-on industry, which it absolutely is. Construction technology is already making a huge impact on improving quality, reducing risk, shortening schedules, and improving margins. And by showing how advancing technology is at the forefront of solving problems, it will offer the promise of exciting, impactful, and innovative work.

The construction industry needs to show the next generation the impact it can have on something seen, lived-in, and inhabited by real people. It’s also about bringing the sexy back to construction, which means bringing cutting-edge technology to the forefront.

There so much happening with software and technology on job sites right now, both automating and supplementing what workers are doing on-site. General contractors are now using platforms such as Forge to create rich data ecosystems on worksites, linking computer models, on-site workers, project management, and back-end record-keeping.

Job sites may soon become high-tech, open-air factories: Prefabrication, modular housing, and 3D printing are revolutionizing the industry and creating more efficient, computer-aided building methods. The innovative use of technology in the industry is a compelling story, but construction firms need to do more outreach to students and prospective workers. General contractors and commercial developers should link up with universities and use these programs to create joint programs that allow these students to apply and pilot new construction technology.

A large number of building associations, including the Association of Builders and Contractors and the Association of General Contractors, should continue to reach out via their student chapters. It’s also ripe for disruption in terms of diversity, another way to appeal to younger workers and expand the pool of potential employees. The industry needs to reach into the education sector, inspire both boys and girls, and be open and proud of diversity.

This time of rapid change is an opportunity to transform the industry and the makeup of the workforce for the better.

ProsConnected.com

You just PROVED that our automated marketing solutions work.



Automated Marketing Solution
Social Media Marketing & SEO


START NOW


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10 Powerful Ways to Master Self-Discipline

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. It may be hard to believe when you’re facing a hot-fudge sundae or the prospect of sleeping in versus hitting the gym, but studies show that people with self-discipline are happier. People with a higher degree of self-control spend less time debating whether to indulge in behaviors that are detrimental to their health, and are able to make positive decisions more easily. They don’t let impulses or feelings dictate their choices. Instead, they make level-headed decisions. As a result, they tend to feel more satisfied with their lives. There are things you can do to learn self-discipline and gain the willpower to live a happier life. If you are looking to take control of your habits and choices, here are the 10 most powerful things you can do to master self-discipline. 1. Know your weaknesses. We all have weaknesses . Whether they’re snacks such as potato chips or chocolate chip cookies, o...
Post a Comment
Read more

No Money to Start? No Problem. Try These 5 Options to Fund Your Business.

Ready For Anything Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You might be limited to a strict budget to start a business, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have any options. It is possible to start a business with very little money, if you have the right combination of skills, work ethic and marketing know-how. According to Chris Guillebeau, author of The $100 Startup , “To succeed in a business project, especially one you’re excited about, it helps to think carefully about all the skills you have that could be helpful to others and particularly about the combination of those skills.” Related:  How to Start a Business With (Almost) No Money Follow these simple guidelines to fund your business when you have little to no money. No Money to Start? No Problem. Try These 5 Options to Fund Your Business. Yes, making something does take an initial cost in supplies, but often, these products can be sold...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tomorrow's ‘general’ AI revolution will grow from today's technology

In today's pop culture, machines with artificial general intelligence (AGI) are typically portrayed as walking, talking human analogs replete with personalities -- from the Terminator's murderous intent to Vision's noble heroism. In reality, self-aware robots are a long way off. Nathan Michael, associate research professor and the director of the Resilient Intelligent Systems Lab at Carnegie Mellon University, argues that generalized AI systems will grow out from today's single-purpose "narrow" AIs. "General AI is representative of this concept of bringing together many different kinds of specialized AI," he explained. AGI isn't so much a singular standalone system -- it's no digital Athena bursting forth from Zeus' forehead -- but rather a threshold of capability derived from a collection of narrow AI's working together, Michael said. He likens it to a baby. When a person is born, they don't possess a proper consciousne...
Post a Comment
Read more