As an Assistant Instructional Professor from Texas A&M University's Department of Construction Science who teaches materials and methods, construction graphics, as well as construction project management, I regularly discuss expectations and pathways for careers in the construction industry with prospective students. I also like to ask prospective students what they believe their job duties will be if they graduate on Saturday and begin work on Monday. This question has a variety of answers that include many misperceptions about the construction industry. Furthermore, when I ask them what they think construction management is, they’ll give it back to me and say that it’s the management of construction, but it's a lot more than that.The Department of Construction Science prepares students for the next workforce generation of construction project delivery and is seeking to become more demographically representative of the state of Texas. The current Texas construction workforce is highly represented by Hispanics, but those in management positions are only a small percentage.
I created the Mobilization 2 Completion initiative as a means to address the growing need for a sustainable skilled construction workforce. Research has shown that the construction industry will face workforce shortages which will increase cost of delivery and time to completion. In addition, the negative image of the construction industry needs to be studied and strategies formulated to increase the number of students enrolled in construction education.Currently the Mobilization 2 Completion initiative has been working on three areas of research made possible through a grant awarded by Marek Brothers Systems. The grant is dedicated to increasing recruitment and retention of potential workforce through construction education and awareness. The three areas of research are focused onHigh School Juniors’ perceptions of a construction careerFactors of recruitment and retention of Skilled Trades construction education students
March 26, 2014
