Perhaps one of the biggest questions of this century is how we encourage young people to consider careers in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and more. Certainly, the answer is myriad. We can’t simply take one approach to this conundrum.
The reality is we need to come at the worker shortage in construction from multiple angles, which is something I have discussed here on this blog, but a new survey has some interesting insights about how to attract the younger generation of construction workers to the industry. DEWALT and WorldSkills Intl., conducted a survey of young trade professionals across 69 countries and regions. Here is what the two organizations found.
Biggest barriers: While the biggest barriers to entering a career in the skilled trades range depending on who you ask, some of the biggest ones include social stigma and lack of parental support. In fact, 42% identified the persistent social stigma surrounding these professions as a major obstacle, while 35% pointed to a lack of parental support. Other hurdles include limited school exposure and lack of access to training.
Social media as recruitment: More than 50% of those inspired by social media were influenced by specific social media personalities or brands. Branding is becoming a huge recruitment tool for many industries, and the trades are certainly no exception.
Trade influencers: Not only are people inspired by social media, but many want to do the same. Roughly 75% of trade people intend to use social media to raise visibility for skilled careers and more than 50% are interested in creating social content showcasing themselves at work to encourage others to join their trade.
Biggest motivators: Why are people choosing construction today? There are several reasons. Nearly 70% reported their primary motivation for choosing a specific skill was the desire to work with their hands. Additionally, 44% indicate the desire to make a positive impact on the global community, while 42% cite a willingness to start their own business. Also, the cost-effectiveness of vocational education and training comes into play here, as 45% say it is a top factor in choosing it over college, while 53% point to the earning potential of a skill-based career.
It is an interesting survey to consider, but the reality is social media is only one tool to help address the worker conundrum we face in the construction industry today. We need a combination of factors at play here. We need digital transformation, strategic thinking, talent development, and a new era of work. We must consider how work is changing and embrace and deploy it in construction. What would you add?
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