Ask anyone in construction, and they’ll bemoan the lack of new workers entering the industry, which has been causing a labor shortage for the past decade or more, particularly as baby boomers continue to retire.
Thankfully, the numbers are starting to get better as the Wall Street Journal recently reported that enrollment in vocational training programs is surging, rising 16% last year. Students studying construction trades rose 23%, while HVAC and vehicle maintenance and repair increased 7%. While these numbers are encouraging, much work remains to be done to effectively fill the gaps, which are both physical and mental, as today’s older generation has a knowledge base that can’t be easily replaced.
