Training Announced for May
Leaders from throughout Indiana’s construction industry have united to focus on diversity in the industry’s workforce efforts through the Indiana Construction Roundtable Foundation (ICRF). Originally formed out of the Indiana Construction Roundtable (ICR), which is a commercial construction association, the ICRF has now formally brought together union and non-union companies who work in commercial, residential, and road construction markets. Diversity is a central focus of this collaborative effort.
Rick Wajda, CEO of the Indiana Builders Association, when asked about this effort, stated, “to best serve our communities all segments of the construction industry must come together for a cooperative effort. By putting aside our differences and shifting the focus to helping people in need, we will raise the tide to meet the needs of all construction employers, regardless of a business’ specialization.”
“Construction can provide not just a job, but a good living – and an even better life – for Hoosiers across all demographics,” said Richard Hedgecock, President of Indiana Constructors, Inc.
According to Hoosiers by the Numbers, in the fourth quarter of 2017 there were over 8,000 job openings posted in construction, major maintenance, and related fields in the greater Indianapolis region. These openings paid an average of $23.40 / hour, plus paid benefits. “This is a small portion of the total number of open opportunities across the state of Indiana in construction, and more open up every day,” said Mike Thibideau, Executive Director of the Indiana Construction Roundtable, “In every survey conducted of our members and members of partnering organizations, workforce development is nearly unanimously the top concern of the construction business community.” According to Construction Labor Market Analyzer (CLMA), the average construction worker in Indiana is 49 years old.
Leaders from throughout the state’s industry cite a lack of diversity as a top concern for the industry’s future. “Historically, the construction industry has largely relied on referrals from their most skilled workers to identify new hires,” says Chris Price, President of the ICRF, “If John is a good electrician, and John recommends Zach, then Zach will probably be a good worker too. Until now, this strategy has been working. Industry has been able to meet the need of construction consumers, but this strategy has perpetuated the lack of diversity within industry.”
Price, through his work with the ICR Foundation, originally brought together all of the above named construction segments to focus on student outreach through Build Your Future Indiana. He sees this youth outreach as an essential component to addressing the future needs of industry, but sees more change as being necessary to make change today, and help individuals throughout the state find opportunity in construction.
“The construction industry is trending backwards on diversity,” says Price, “according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 1983, when the first federal legislation was enacted for minority business enterprises (MBE), African-Americans accounted for 6.6% of the construction workforce. As an industry, we are currently comprised of 2.6% women and 5.8% African-Americans. While diversity spending is helping to develop a network of qualified entrepreneurs, additional actions must be taken to reverse this downward trend in our workforce.”
Starting in May, the ICR Foundation will begin publicly marketing plans for a training model that will add focus to the challenge of diversity. This is a one month program, built with the intention of providing individuals with the skills and confidence to begin a career in construction. Built around national industry accredited courses and credentials, participants in the program will have exposure to soft skills training paired with education on hand tools, power tools, construction mathematics, blueprint reading, basic rigging and construction safety. The training will be offered at no cost to the student, and at the end of the program graduates will be connected directly to companies.
Price, when speaking about the program, stated, “with minimal outreach to nine regional construction firms, the Foundation has already identified 844 entry level jobs that need to be filled, at an average starting wage of $20.30/hour plus benefits. Never has there been a better time to bring about change. We have an opportunity and obligation to change the course of our industry, for the good of people in our communities.”
The Indiana Construction Roundtable Foundation (ICRF) is a 501c3 charitable organization, with a mission to inform, encourage, and empower individuals to pursue careers in the construction industry and related fields.