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The construction industry has faced a serious talent attraction challenge for several decades. Even though, those of us familiar with the industry know, the work is fulfilling, challenging, and lucrative for those looking to build a career. Not everyone wants to work behind a desk all day, and these jobs rarely involve that. It's great to see #GenZ on social media working to showcase the options available in construction and other blue-collar jobs. I'm also excited at the prospect to see social media help diversify the talent pool as well! Check out the article for more #Construction #BlueCollarJobs #constructionhr

Great article in the The Wall Street Journal, Gen Z Plumbers and Construction Workers Are Making #BlueCollar Cool: https://lnkd.in/eJ4ZQEDp; It's remarkable to witness Gen Z's renewed interest in skilled trades and blue-collar work. With a 16% increase in enrollments at vocational-focused community colleges, more young people are recognizing the value and opportunities within these fields. This shift is not just about avoiding debt from a four-year degree; it's about embracing rewarding and well-paying careers. The pay for new construction hires now surpasses that of some professional services, making trades an increasingly attractive option. It's exciting to see this resurgence and the positive impact it will have on the industry and our economy. Credit: #LinkedInNews Story this morning: https://lnkd.in/gHzbrn-D What are your thoughts? Join the conversation, tell us below! #GenZ #SkilledTrades #VocationalEducation #CareerOpportunities #BlueCollarPride #newcollar #WorkforceDevelopment

So, I know we have a lot of influencers in #aviation like Erika Armstrong Shaesta Waiz talking about becoming a #pilot. But what about the rest of the #careers. This article shows how young people are ellevating #bluecollar careers using #socialmedia and teaching young women about careers in male-dominating fields. It's not surprising videos like this are popular given the popularity of Dirty Jobs and This Old House. #aviation and #aerospace are always complaining how tough it is to interest youngsters in our careers. I'm sure they have videos talking about pilots and #aviationmaintenancetechnicians. But what about #flightdispatch #airtrafficcontrol, #manufacturing? I get that manufacturing may be tough owing to #security but we see #plumbing #welding #electricians in this article -- all of which are needed in our industry. "On TikTok, the hashtag #bluecollar drew 500k posts in the first four months of this year, up 64% over the same period in 2023. Posts hashtagged #electrician increased 77% over the same time, with #constructionworker and #mechanic posting similar jumps, TikTok says. "Many posts tout the wages blue-collar workers can make. Pay for new hires in construction now outstrips pay for new hires in professional services like accounting, according to ADP data. Skilled-trade influencers say they’re also trying to combat decades of stereotypes in which practitioners were seen as grease monkeys or stuck in low-end careers. “We’ve made it more appealing. We have nice vehicles. We own homes, we are successful,” says Matt Panella, 27, a carpenter who drives a Tesla “Kids aren’t going to job sites saying, hey, man, can you hire me? They’re getting to know it on social media, giving them the idea that this is a legit possibility,” says the elder Coffman. https://lnkd.in/eStPASCC

Some 2.2 million people on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook watch Lexis Czumak-Abreu do her electrician work. Maybe you’re one of them. Did you see her atop a bucket truck, working on power poles? Or stripping cables in a ditch? Since she began posting videos, she’s gotten thousands of messages from viewers saying she’s sparked their interest in trade work. Czumak-Abreu’s path is one that more young Americans are considering, Te-Ping Chen reports. Skepticism about the cost and value of four-year degrees is growing, and enrollment in vocational programs has risen as young people pursue well-paying jobs that don’t require desks or so much debt, and come with the potential to be your own boss. The number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges rose 16% last year to its highest level since the National Student Clearinghouse began tracking such data in 2018. On TikTok, the hashtag #bluecollar drew 500k posts in the first four months of this year, up 64% over the same period in 2023. Posts hashtagged #electrician increased 77% over the same time, with #constructionworker and #mechanic posting similar jumps, TikTok says. Many posts tout the wages blue-collar workers can make. Pay for new hires in construction now outstrips pay for new hires in professional services like accounting, according to ADP data. Skilled-trade influencers say they’re also trying to combat decades of stereotypes in which practitioners were seen as grease monkeys or stuck in low-end careers. See how young workers are making trade jobs cool: https://lnkd.in/etHHSQcY

I thought this article was really interesting. When I was with FindWRK, I spent a lot of time thinking about the labour market and labour shortages in particular. Interesting that influencers in the skilled trades are finding such large followings. Probably in part because their day to day work feels foreign to so many that sit at a desk all day. For those interested in some of these dynamics, read "Shop Class As Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work". It explores the value of manual labour in a modern, technology-driven society. The author - Matthew B. Crawford - looks at the ways in which people get value from and stay connected to their work. He argues that ownership over specific outputs, with tangible achievements along the way makes for a much more engaging experience. And he goes further to draw comparisons between the repetitiveness of many white-collar office jobs and the nature of manual labour jobs. Satisfaction among those doing manual work is higher because those sitting at keyboards have lost a connection to the final outcome of their work. Gen Z is starting to catch on. With higher pay and new technologies, more young people are choosing trades over office roles. According to the WSJ, enrollment in vocational-focused community colleges rose by 16% last year, with a 23% increase in students pursuing construction trades. Thoughts? Book and MSN article (ungated) linked in comments.

Gen Z turns to #BlueCollar jobs: Wary of being saddled with debt from a four-year degree, members of Gen Z are increasingly turning to the trades. The number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges jumped 16% last year, according to the National Student Clearinghouse — the highest level since tracking began in 2018. And being of the TikTok generation, many of these newly minted plumbers and electricians are documenting their work on social media, which only further drives interest. Half a million TikTok posts bore the hashtag #bluecollar in the first four months of 2024, a 64% increase over a year earlier. - In a twist, some skilled-trades influencers are making more money on TikTok than in the day jobs they document online — sometimes as much as $500,000 a year. - But even for non-influencers, the money is an increasingly attractive proposition: Pay for new construction hires is now better than for new hires in professional services such as accounting, per ADP.

Instead of taking out a predatory loan they'll never be able to pay off to obtain a degree in a white-collar field riddled with uncertainty, Gen Z has (smartly) pivoted to the trades. As reported in The Wall Street Journal yesterday, the number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges rose 16% last year to its highest level since tracking began in 2018. With more workers ditching degrees, companies are pivoting as well. In my research last year for Capterra (which I'll 🔗 in the comments), 47% of recruiters said their employer had already or planned to drop college degree requirements from at least some job openings by 2030. If you're still requiring college degrees on job openings, you could unintentionally be missing out on top talent--especially younger workers that increasingly can't afford a degree. In lieu of requiring degrees, #HR departments and recruiters should: 🎯 Prioritize skills-based hiring 💻 Recognize the quality of top-tier "alternative credentials" like coding bootcamps and industry certifications Have you removed college degree requirements from job openings at your employer? If so, how has it affected your hiring? Let me know in the comments.

Demand for craft labor is a consistent pain point in our industry, as noted in this recent Construction Dive article. So, how do we adapt? M3 believes the answer is prefabrication. By optimizing workflows and leveraging innovative solutions, we can do more with fewer resources—delivering high-quality results without compromise. It’s not just about finding the best talent in demanding markets—it’s about rethinking how we build. Read the full article at the link below. #Prefabrication #CraftLabor #Recruitment

It’s great to see one of H&M’s projects featured in this article. During the site selection process, we routinely work with our clients on the technical analysis of a site, helping to reliably estimate and define site development costs, potential soils or topography challenges, schedule impacts, environmental impacts, and existing utility support systems or extension requirements, costs, and timelines. There are many considerations when selecting these sites, and our analysis is just one part of the equation. Our goal is to help establish reliable cost and well planned schedule expectations for our clients. #siteanalysis #engineering #designbuild ---->Featured article👇

Did you know? 🛠️ The call for skilled tradespeople is on a steep rise, and finding the right experts is critical. At Anders Elite, we meet this challenge head-on: - We're on a mission to seamlessly connect top-notch blue-collar workers with the projects craving their craft. - Every candidate goes through a thorough vetting process, ensuring your site gains from dependable, top-tier tradespeople. - We offer competitive framework rates, guaranteeing access to skilled labour while respecting your budget. - Our invoice terms are tailored to your cashflow, easing financial stress for a smoother project flow. - Our full-spectrum support continues throughout each placement, guaranteeing uninterrupted productivity. 👷♂️ In fields from construction to engineering, if you're searching for proficient pros, Anders Elite is your ally in strengthening your team. Let's partner up and build a foundation for lasting triumph. #TradesRecruitment #BlueCollarJobs #AndersElite #ConstructionTalent #SkilledTrades