To create a sustainable pipeline of craft professionals for the construction industry, 18 states have proclaimed October as Careers in Construction Month. Governors in Nevada, Colorado, Oregon, Utah, Nebraska, Texas, Indiana, North Carolina, Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Florida, Ohio, Georgia and Michigan have all recognized Careers in Construction Month in their states.
Started by NCCER's Build Your Future (BYF) initiative in 2005, Careers in Construction Month was originally known as Careers in Construction Week. Due to tremendous response from organizations that recognized and supported Careers in Construction Week, BYF expanded its efforts to spread the word about construction careers by declaring October as Careers in Construction Month. This nationwide campaign was designed to increase public awareness of the career opportunities available in the construction industry. Schools, contractors and organizations from all over the country partner locally to host construction career events throughout the month. To help facilitate these partnerships and events, BYF offers the following free resources online:
- Careers in Construction Month Field Manual - Provides comprehensive instructions for creating a successful career campaign in your local area
- How To Plan a Career Day - Gives organizers a checklist for planning a local or regional career event
- Helpful Hints for Career Day Exhibitors - Six tips to effectively execute a career day event
- Best Practices: Robins & Morton in Millen, Georgia - Learn how one contractor transformed an entire town by partnering with educators to host career events and other community outreach programs
- State Proclamation Guidelines - State-by-state breakdown of the requirements for submitting a Careers in Construction Month proclamation
I am excited about where our industry is heading. However, we need to do more to promote construction careers to America's youth before we lose them to other industries. By participating in career day events, presentations, field trips or other awareness activities throughout October, many students will be introduced to numerous opportunities in the construction industry that they never knew existed. What are you doing this October in your local area to help build the future of our youth and industry? Let's all do our part to make this year's Careers in Construction Month the best one yet!
