Every home, neighborhood and community we build begins with people. Builders, remodelers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, HVAC professionals, designers, engineers, suppliers, manufacturers, project managers and countless others bring their skills and expertise together every day to build the Sioux Empire.
October is Careers in Construction Month, a time to celebrate those professionals and the rewarding careers available throughout our industry. But for HBASE, this month is about more than recognition. It is also about looking ahead and asking an important question: Who will build what comes next?
The need is significant. NAHB estimates the construction industry will need 2.2 million new skilled workers over the next three years to keep pace with growth, retirements and people leaving the workforce. There is encouraging news, too. Interest in construction trades among young adults ages 18 to 25 has doubled over the past decade.
People are interested. Our opportunity is to connect that interest with education, experiences and pathways into our industry. That is where HBASE, the Home Builders Care Foundation and our members can make a difference.
Over the coming months, several exciting workforce initiatives are taking shape. New career videos will launch on the HBASE website, introducing people to the many careers within residential construction and the professionals behind them. Alongside those videos, we will launch a targeted awareness campaign designed to reach students and families, helping them better understand our industry, the opportunities available and the many different paths that can lead to a successful career in construction.
We are also preparing to open our new Let’s Build exhibit at the Washington Pavilion, giving children and families another opportunity to discover building at an early age. Sometimes workforce development begins years before someone fills out a job application. It can start with a child building something with their hands, becoming curious about how things work and discovering the satisfaction of creating something.
That is why our approach needs to reach across every stage, from elementary and middle school through high school, post-secondary education and into the workforce. Our partnerships with area schools continue to grow, with exciting announcements ahead that will strengthen construction education and expand hands-on learning opportunities. We are also continuing to develop our partnership with Southeast Technical College, finding more ways to engage students and connect them directly with our members and real-world industry experiences. The goal is to create stronger connections between education and industry at every level and give our members more opportunities to be part of that process.
Building our future workforce also requires us to think differently about who may be looking for an opportunity. That includes people entering the workforce, changing careers or looking for a fresh start. It can also include individuals reentering the workforce following incarceration who are ready to develop skills, establish a career and move forward. We are beginning conversations about how we can help prepare those individuals for opportunities in construction while also preparing our industry and employers to successfully train, support and work with a second-chance workforce.
At the center of all of this are our members. Someone likely gave each of us an opportunity, taught us a skill or helped us discover a career we may not have considered. Now we have the chance to do that for someone else. Whether it is mentoring, opening a jobsite, speaking to a classroom, engaging with a Southeast Tech student or simply being willing to give someone their first opportunity, our members can make these initiatives matter.
And during Careers in Construction Month, there will even be a sweeter way to help.
HBASE and the Home Builders Care Foundation have teamed up with Oh My Cupcakes! for a special construction-themed cupcake available October 12–17. With every cupcake sold, a portion of the proceeds will support Care Foundation scholarships for students interested in pursuing careers in the trades.
There is so much happening, and it all comes back to one goal: helping more people see a place for themselves in our industry. From a child discovering building at the Washington Pavilion to a student exploring a career, an adult looking for a new direction or someone simply needing a second chance, we have an opportunity to open doors.
So, as we celebrate Careers in Construction Month, help us tell the story and buy some cupcakes! Take a box back to the office, share them with your team and help spread the word. Every cupcake supports scholarships, every conversation creates awareness, and every opportunity we provide can help us build the workforce that will build the Sioux Empire for generations to come.
