“All members of the building industry…should establish mentoring programs and reach out to their education community and to parents, teachers, business leaders and decision makers to support technical/vocational curriculum that meets the needs of today’s workplace and capitalizes on the skills and work experience of these industry experts.”
That’s one of the recommendations in “Moving Forward”, a recent report by the National Institute of Building Science (NIBS) assessing U.S. building industry priorities. The report states, “the skills required by building professionals have changed drastically over the past few decades, yet the next generation of available labor does not have the necessary technical/vocational training to replace the skills of the workforce that is retiring.”
Young people considering construction careers want to know that they can be part of the solution to the environmental challenges we face. As a Green Advantage Certified Associate or Practitioner, we encourage you to provide leadership in your community, trade, and company by sharing your expertise in sustainable construction.
“Members of the Millennial generation,” the report continues “do not expect to keep the same job for their entire careers; rather they expect to change jobs and career paths several times. This should be seen as an open opportunity to show young people how vocational options can be an important part of their lifetime career transitions.” Helping young people become GACA or GACP provides them a meaningful credential that will help them find and benefit from future career opportunities.
Certification prepares field personnel to better meet environmental, productivity, efficiency, safety, and budgetary goals on projects. The outcome is healthier, higher performance buildings – and a catalyst for better prepared recruits to our industry.
Michael Chusid, RA, FCSI, CCS, GACP
Editor