For the state of Ohio to not have construction careers deemed "in demand" is a fiscal and social travesty. The data clearly shows that construction careers are projected to be the 2nd highest growing sector over the next 10 years; yet the state shall be investing its WIOA funds to promote careers in sectors projected to have negative growth! They justify this practice with subjective measures such as employer surveys and Jobs Ohio "key economic drivers".  I would love to see how any expansion of our economy is possible without construction.

It is your time to act...
This is the open "public comment" period. If you believe, as I do, as the data shows, that Construction is "in demand" and deserves job training dollars allocated to help people find careers in the skilled trades, tell the State of Ohio

​Go to http://workforce.ohio.gov/Initiatives/Combined-State-Plan, scroll down and fill out the form. Tell your friends and co-workers to do the same.

SPRINGBORO, Jan. 3—The not seasonally adjusted (NSA) national construction unemployment rate was 5 percent in November, down 0.7 percent from a year ago and the lowest November rate on record, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The construction industry employed 191,000 more workers than in November 2016. 

“Construction employment continues to show strength throughout much of the country, reflecting a healthy construction industry,” said Bernard M. Markstein, Ph.D., president and chief economist of Markstein Advisors, who conducted the analysis for ABC. “Above-average temperatures and below-normal precipitation in much of country in November likely helped overall construction activity. Continued recovery and rebuilding efforts following 2017’s hurricanes, floods and wildfires has added to demand for workers, offsetting some of the normal seasonal downturn in construction employment.”
 
To better understand the basis for calculating unemployment rates and what they measure, see the article Background on State Construction Unemployment Rates in the State-by-State Construction Economics section at abc.org/economics.

For a more indepth discussion on this topic, contact John Morris, President of Ohio Valley Associated Builders & Contractors and the Ohio Valley Construction Education Foundation (937) 414-2408, john@ovabc.org.

Are you one of those who believe that there are people who go to work every day as construction “workers”?  Do you believes these mythical creatures exist?  There are super-people who show up and build schools, office buildings, hospitals, roads and bridges?  I assume you must also believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.   
 
If you believe in construction “workers”, you think someone just wakes up one day and decides to go to “work” construction.  You believe that they can just walk onto a jobsite and be productive.  You believe that the same individual who does the ground work also sets the steel, raises the walls, runs the wiring, installs the heating, puts on the roof, installs the glass, etc.   One construction “worker” does it all.  Ok, not just one of these super-people, you believe there are thousands of these “workers” who get it done.
 
Let’s set the story straight – THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A CONSTRUCTION “WORKER”!  Yet, people still believe.  They are good people like you; just unaware of the reality of the industry.  Unfortunately, many believers are also elected officials who continually fail to invest statewide and regional training dollars into the construction industry leaving thousands of middle class career opportunities unfilled.  Other believers are parents and school counselors who fail to encourage young people to consider a career in construction, instead pushing them into college and mountains of debt.  Are you ready for the reality?
 
The term construction “worker” is an insult to every hard working skilled tradesperson in the industry today.   No one wakes up one day and becomes a productive member of the construction industry the next.  We are not “workers” and the construction industry offers no “jobs”.  We are highly trained Ironworkers, Cement Finishers, Masons, Electricians, Plumbers, Safety Engineers, Glaziers, HVAC Technicians, Roofers, to name only a few.   Our skills are formed in the classroom, in the lab, and on the job under controlled guidelines and supervision.  We take tests for certifications and licensure.  We are regulated and monitored just like accountants and teachers; but unlike those “jobs”, our education is usually paid in full by the employer while we are paid to work while learning the trade.  Great career without the debt.
 
Our nation depends on its infrastructure; our economy cannot move forward without investment in capital resources.  Skilled Tradespeople do this work; but our industry faces a skilled labor shortage that is projected to grow to 1.1 million workers during the next decade. This means that construction presents tremendous opportunities for those interested in joining an industry in which Americans have built lucrative careers for generations.   Please do your part and stop believing in construction “workers”, then go encourage someone to look into the skilled trades.  Visit ovcef.org or careers.abc.org to learn more about construction careers.

RE:       Finding Competent and Qualified Workers Now
            Making Current workers more productive
            Building a pipeline of Future Workers
 
Even if you are not a current Ohio Valley ABC member, if you need workers now, are concerned about finding future workers, or would like your current workers to be more productive, be aware that we can help.   Call me today to discuss how.  Read on for more details.
 
A few years ago, other merit shop construction companies like yours (on the Ohio Valley ABC board of directors) began to dedicate ABC resources into outreach and workforce development.  They saw a bleak future for finding construction workers and pledged resources to do something about it.  Today, Ohio Valley ABC has extensive relationships that stretch from middle school through adult education and into social service organization programs from N.KY through all of Ohio.
 
Every month, our www.ovcef.org – Find a Career in Construction portal brings us leads on individuals interested in working for companies like yours.  Our CORE Pre-Apprenticeship programs will churn out 60-80 people with OSHA 10, Hand tools, Construction Math and Drawings, Rigging Certificates as well as hands on lab and on-site job experiences.  These are “ready to hire” individuals.
 
Later this year, our Craft Leadership program will be available to help grow your current craft workers in foreman or project managers.  Also in the fall, our apprenticeship year begins.  We have a 21st century training model that helps employees better understand their trade and improves productivity in the field for both apprentices and journeymen.  A small investment yields large returns.  Would you pay your guys $1/hr more if they were 20% more productive?
 
In October, volunteers from companies like yours will be visiting classrooms all around our region, talking to young people about careers in construction.  We are “planting seeds” and will eventually harvest some of these young people as our future workers. 
 
If you need help finding workers, want to expand/improve your employee productivity or just want to grow your business and make more money, email or call me today.  1-800-686-6440.

     John Morris
     President
     john@ovabc.org

I am proud of the commitment of ABC and its members has made to ensure that we continue to attract and retain talented people to meet the nation’s ever-increasing construction needs.   Our work has only just begun and I challenge you to do three things:

1: Recruit a new person to our industry this year
2. Volunteer for a classroom outreach project
3. Help fund a scholarship.  

The challenges facing the construction industry will not solve themselves.