Here’s Why Millennials Aren't Joining The Construction Industry

You’ve heard this story before: millennials, just like every other generation before them, are bombarded with messages why they’re ruining everything previous generations have created. It’s such a common expression that it has almost become a joke in itself.

But for the construction industry, millennials’ lack of participation in skilled labor isn’t a joke: it's not only caused a crippling scarcity of workers, but it also puts the future economy at risk. 

Whether you're a millennial or not, understanding the factors causing this lack of participation and how you can improve them is critical to a sustainable economy.

Breakdown of a millennial

For most, a college degree is expected. While white-collar job growth is increasing, it still hasn’t caught up to available labor supply. Anyone who paid attention in economics knows the next part of the equation: too many workers and not enough jobs mean less pay and/or more applicants taking positions outside of their industry.

Those jobs don’t pay much, and with the rising debt from that college education, millennials have a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Hollywood’s “dumb plumber” syndrome

When watching dramas, sitcoms, and even “reality” shows, the mind can easily distinguish between fantasy and reality. However, many of those subliminal messages pass through without a second thought.

Mike Rowe, an actor best known for narrating the “Dirty Jobs” series on television, makes this case with his typically offcolor style:

“Close your eyes and picture a plumber. Is he 300 pounds? Can you see his butt crack? I bet you can.”

That’s how most millennials, and really anyone who watches television regularly, view the trades. Dirty, unsophisticated, unkempt, and rough around the edges. For anyone working in these trades, it’s laughably incorrect, and only serves to resonate with the show’s storyline.

Too educated to work

Craftworkers, by definition, requires education, practice, and persistence. While it’s true you might not need to understand statistical analysis, double-entry balance sheets, sterile compounding, or tort law, you do need to know chemical reactions, thermal-electric expansion values, and absolute pressure tables. Most positions don’t require a college degree, but applicants will likely need at least 4 years of learning to become fully certified.

For those seeking larger intellectual challenges, don’t forget there are a variety of advancement opportunities: engineers, virtual designers, project managers, and superintendents are all in high demand. Those looking to avoid those expensive college loans will be glad to know many companies, including TD, offer full education reimbursement for any construction-related field.

The opportunity cost of choosing another career over construction can also be immense. For a variety of reasons, millennials’ degrees haven’t translated into equivalent jobs, salary increases or advancement opportunities. Comparing that Baby Boomer or Gen-X path to the possible career trajectory available in construction might raise a few eyebrows. PayScale’s salary calculator offers a quick way to measure salaries for each position. A few salary examples, based on the Dallas, Texas, market:

• Pipefitter: $47,361
• Sheet metal worker: $40,872
• Plumber: $45,198
• HVAC technician: $46,467
• Facility Manager: $61,019

Watch the video below to learn how Hollywood's portrayal of blue-collar workers is contributing to the skilled craftworker shortage: 

Looking to launch the career of a lifetime? Click this link. 

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