26 Utah Asphalt Pavement Association Miriam Call, Marketing Paige Neuenschwander, Marketing Seniors, BYU Encouraging Younger Workers to Apply for Construction Jobs Miriam Call and Paige Neuenschwander presented on the current workforce challenges facing the construction industry. As the industry continues to grow, it is projected to require hundreds of thousands of additional workers. However, the workforce gap continues to widen, with more individuals leaving the field than entering it. Currently, for every seven workers who leave the industry, only one new worker joins. In their scholarship presentation, Call and Neuenschwander explored strategies for attracting younger generations to careers in construction and addressed what the industry can do to improve recruitment and long-term workforce development. Attracting and Retaining Young People in the Construction Industry The workforce is changing. Younger generations are becoming more strategic about their career decisions. Many would rather work smarter than harder, and the days of working solely for a paycheck are largely in the past. Today, people expect more from their employers — they want flexible schedules, a healthy work-life balance, and strong benefits. Despite these expectations, the construction industry faces a major challenge: less than 3% of young people are interested in pursuing construction careers. Additionally, for every seven workers leaving the industry, only one enters. To address this gap, construction companies must rethink how they attract and retain younger workers. Scholarship Presentations
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