This week, Chappell Covington, our director of talent and corporate development attended the Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama convention. She is an ABC board member, and the conference was also was a good fit for her because workforce development is such a huge topic in our industry right now. When I asked her for takeaways from the meetings, she came back with something surprising: In many ways, the military is beating us to the punch when it comes to recruitment.
David Salters of Warren Averett shared that the department of defense is offering adventure, purpose, career development, and the chance to work with advanced technology. The military has crafted a message that connects with young people, and if we want to compete for that same talent, we need to sharpen our message.
The truth is that construction has all those qualities the military is touting. We work with the latest technology, solve real-world problems and build things that last. The difference? We’re not always telling our story in a way that connects. Alabama’s Academy of Craft Training is on the right track, helping high school students discover pride in the trades and giving them a direct line to employers. But as a whole, our industry needs to work on our elevator speech. We offer purpose and a chance to build something that matters. We just need to say it louder.