As the number of job openings in the construction sector reaches a post-recession high in the U.S., there currently are 17% fewer people working in construction than when the market was at its peak, according to forconstructionpros.com.
To attempt to combat the construction industry’s labor shortage, the Associated General Contractors of California hosted a Virtual Construction Career Fair to connect job seekers with recruiters from construction firms and trade/apprenticeship programs in California. Recruiters were looking to hire in various positions, including skilled labor, project engineering or management, accounting and business development.
“Our workforce development efforts are making important strides to tackle the industry's growing workforce gap,” says Erin Volk, vice president of workforce and operations at AGC. “The construction industry is in dire need of a massive number of new and skilled workers in order to sustain and grow.”
Interested companies received a booth at the virtual job fair to connect with job seekers. The event hosted a wide range of candidates who met with recruiters, submitted their resumes and participated in Skype interviews—all from their laptops or smartphones.
For every five workers who leave the construction industry, only one replaces them. By 2025, about 75% of the workforce will be millennials, so companies are looking for new ways to reach that demographic.
