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Build the Skills Pipeline: Future & Current Workers
Despite competitive wages and high demand for new homes, the residential construction industry has a skilled labor shortage. A few of the reasons? Fewer shop classes, an aging workforce and a societal bias toward college prep over skilled trades. The result? A nationwide housing shortage, rising cost for homes and a generation lacking basic home maintenance skills. Here are ways you can help!
Share Your Knowledge
Do A Little Research
Chat with the instructor or principal before your presentation to learn a little more about the students. Keep your audience in mind while you speak. Speaking to a group of construction trades students will be vastly different than speaking to an eighth-grade math class.
Share Your Story
Open your presentation by briefly introducing yourself, your company and how you got your start in residential construction.
Provide Wage Data
Show students how much they can make on average in common residential construction careers. BIAW has a PowerPoint with the latest Washington wages. Present it on the screen with the accompanying handout.
Let Them Hear From Other Young People
BIAW worked with four young workers with four distinctly different pathways to show young people the benefits of working in residential construction and how to find their way.
Watch Video
End With A Call-to-Action
Tell them where they can find more information about education, training and jobs in residential construction in your area. Answer as many questions as you can but always feel free to refer them back to BIAW.
Encourage Them To Apply For Scholarships
Open your presentation by briefly introducing yourself, your company and how you got your start in residential construction.
Scholarships
Classroom Resources
Celebrate Careers in Construction
October is Careers in Construction Month!
- Demonstrate teamwork with a group project
- Work in your community and heighten awareness of construction careers locally
- Reach out to Habitat for Humanity, your Parks and Recreation dept., or another community group to identify a collaborative project
- Post on social using #CICDAY2022 and #CareersInConstruction
Provide Wage Data
Collaboration and Communication in Construction
5th Grade
Tiny House Design
5th - 6th Grades
Conduct a Teambuilding Activity
Collaboration and Communication in Construction
5th Grade
General Activities and Team Building Guides
NAHB offers construction-focused activities and lesson plans to engage students of all ages, including build guides, team exercises, and internship resources. These materials support educators in introducing students to construction careers.
Start an NAHB Student Chapter
This program is dedicated to enriching students’ educational experience and offers first-hand exposure to the real world of the building industry through membership, educational programming and networking opportunities. Bring this opportunity to your region of the state by accessing NAHB’s Starting a Student Chapter Toolkit.
Start a Student Chapter